Game #39 Philadelphia Phillies (21-20) @ Toronto Blue Jays (22-17) - game recap

 

Marcus Semien was 3-5 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI as the Blue Jays held on to to defeat the Phillies 10-8

The Blue Jays wrapped up the season series with the Phillies this afternoon. The two teams split the first 2 games. Today, Robbie Ray got the start. Ray threw 6 strong innings vs. the Braves 5 days ago and struck out 10 batters. In his career vs the Phillies, Ray is 2-2 with a 5.51ERA over 6 starts heading into today's start. Danny Jansen was back behind the plate after a day off yesterday. Santiago Espinal got the start at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays win the series? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Marcus Semien led off with A solo blast to right-center
• A batter later, Bo Bichette hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Danny Jansen singled scoring Santiago Espinal
• Twio batters later, Bichette singled home Jansen
• A batter after that, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, doubled scoring Semien
• Two batters later, Randal Grichuk doubled scoring Guerrero Jr. and Bichette
• Chase Anderson pitching line: 1.1IP 8H 7R (all earned) 1BB 0K 56 pitches (37 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Semien doubled home Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• The Phillies got one back in the top of the 5th as Nick Maton smacked a solo blast to right-center 
• A batter later, Andrew McCutchen whacked a solo blast to left-center 
• Three batters later, Alec Bohm singled scoring Jean Segura
• The Phillies got one back in the top of the 6th as Maton hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• Robbie Ray pitching line: 5.2IP 7H 4R (all earned) 1BB 9K 112 pitches (75 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run on a fielder'ss choice hit by Semien that scored Rowdy Tellez
• The Phillies got a pair back in the top of the 8th as Maton singled scoring Brad Miller and Odubel Herrera
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Guerrero Jr. smashed a solo bombto left
• The Phillies got one back in the top of the 9th as Miller singled home Bohm
• Two batters later Herrera singled scoring Miller 
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 Phillies 8

My Take:

• Robbie Ray threw 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on seven hits while walking 1 and striking out 9. Ray escaped a bases loaded jam in the 1st inning on a pair of hits and a hit batter. He then proceeded to retire the next 10 batters, before Rafael Marchan reached on a fielding error by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. The Phillies got to him in the 5th with back to back solo HR and a triple that came around to score. Ray escaped the inning and nearly got through the 6th, but gave up another solo HR. Ray threw 112 pitches, the most by a Blue Jays pitcher this season
• On the offensive side, the Blue Jays jumped all over ex-teammate Chase Anderson, tagging him for 7 runs on 8 hits and a walk. Anderson did not record a strikeout 
• The top 3 hitters: Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were a combined 8-15 with 6 runs scored and 7 RBI
• Every Blue Jays starter had at least 1 hit
• Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays begin a three game set with the Red Sox. The two teams split a pair of games at Fenway Park back on April 20-21. The Red Sox will send lefty Eduardo Rodriguez to the bump Tuesday. The Blue Jays have not named a starting pitcher.

Game #39! The Pete Walkering. Philles @ Jays

 

Game #38 Philadelphia Phillies (21-19) @ Toronto Blue Jays (21-17) - game recap

 

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove in a run, scored a run and the Blue Jays scored a 3rd run off a fielding error on a ball hit by him in a 4-0 shutout win over the Phillies

After a late inning loss last night courtesy of a rough 8th inning for the Blue Jays bullpen, which has been outstanding to date, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series. Anthony Kay got the start. Vlad was back in the field after a half day off yesterday as the DH and Rowdy Tellez served as DH tonight. Reese McGuire got the start behind the plate. Could the Blue Jays even the series and set up a rubber match Sunday? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd on a double by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and a fielding error by Phillies SS Nick Matan that scored Cavan Biggio
• Two batters later, Reese McGuire singled home Gurriel Jr.
• Anthony Kay pitching line: 4IP 1H 0R 2BB 6K 79 pitches (50 for strikes)
• Aaron Nola pitching line: 6.2IP 9H 3R (all earned) 1BB 8K 103 pitches (67 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Randal Grichuk scored on a fielding error by Jean Segura on a ball hit by Gurriel Jr.
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Phillies 0

My Take:

• Anthony Kay had a solid start, throwing 4 shutout innings, allowing a hit, walking 2, hitting a batter and striking out 6. He came into this game with his spot in the rotation in doubt. He did enough to earn another start 
• The bullpen allowed a combined five hits, walked 2 and struck out 8 over the final 5 innings
• The Phillies defense committed three errors tonight, leading to two runs, one of which was unearned
• Every Blue Jays starter, except Marcus Semien had at least 1 hit
• The Blue Jays were 2-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the rubber match. Sunday's matinee will feature former Blue Jays pitcher going up against current Blue Jays lefty Robbie Ray. Anderson was 1-2 with a 7.22ERA in 10 games (7 starts) asa Blue Jay in 2020

Game #38: Lets try that again.... Phillies @ Jays

 

Game #37 Philadelphia Phillies (21-18) @ Toronto Blue Jays (20-17) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked a solo HR in a 5-1 loss to the Phillies

The Blue Jays opened a  10-day 11-day homestand - their final homestand in Dunedin. They will play home games out of Buffalo either for the bulk of the season or until they can play in Toronto. The two squads split the season series last season with the Phillies outscoring the Blue Jays 31-23. Some bad news to start the day. Nate Pearson is dealing with right shoulder impingement and will miss at least one start. Steven Matz got the start tonight. Ryan Borucki was placed on the 10 day IL with a left flexor strain. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Rowdy Tellez at 1B. Danny Jansen was back behind the plate after the day off yesterday. Could the Blue Jays make it 4 wins in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Steven Matz pitching line: 5IP 4H 0R 3BB 9K 106 pitches (65 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 6th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cranked a solo blast to the opposite field in right
• Vince Velasquez pitching line: 5.2IP 3H 1R (earned) 3BB 7K 94 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Phillies tied the game in the top of the 7th on a bases loaded walk to JT Realmuto that forced in Andrew Knapp
• A batter later, Rhys Hoskins doubled scoring Jean Segura and Bryce Harper
• A batter after that, Alec Bohm doubled home Realmuto and Hoskins
• Final score: Philles 5 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Steven Matz had a solid outing throwing 5 shutout innings, while walking 3 and striking out 9. He threw a ton of pitches, needing an average of over 20 pitches to get through an inning. I'm sure Matz would rather have avoided walking the three batters he did to save a few bullets. At one point, Matz retired 6 in a row.
• It was a big 5-run inning that was the difference in this one. Trent Thornton and Tim Mayza combined to allow 5 runs on 4 walks and 2 20run doubles (Andrew Beasley actually gave up the second 2-run double, but the runs were charged to Mayza
• Offensively, the Blue Jays were 0-7 with runners in scoring position
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was the only Blue Jays hitter with multiple hits (2). Vlad was also on base multiple times coirtesy of a solo home run and a walk
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Aaron Nola gets the start against an unannounced Blue Jays pitcher