Game #15 - Minnesota Twins (9-7) @ Toronto Blue Jays (6-9) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement scored both runs for the Blue Jays in a losing effort as the Twins came from behind to rout the Blue Jays 8-2

After a rough loss due to a tough 3rd inning that snowballed on Eric Lauer, the Blue Jays were looking to end the home stand and week with a win and notch their 2nd series win of the season. George Springer was placed on the 10 day IL with a fractured big toe.  Elon Jimenez was recalled from AAA- ball and took Springer's place at DH. Max Scherzer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto was back in the lineup and at the hot corner with Ernie Clement sliding back to 2B. Could the Blue Jays hit the road on a winning note and notch their 2nd series win of the season?  Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Ernie Clement
• The Twins took the lead in the top of the 2nd as Tristan Gray belted a 3-3-run jack to the second deck in right; also scoring Josh Bell and Matt Wallner
• The Twins added a run in the top of the 3rd as Kody Clemens smashed a solo blast to the second deck in right-center 
• Four batters later, Wallner singled scoring Trevor Larnach 
• A batter later, Luke Keaschall scored on a sac fly by Victor Caratini
• Two batters later, Brooks Lee doubled scoring Bell and Wallner 
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 2.1IP 5H 8R (all earned) 2BB 3K 68 pitches (41 for strikes)
• Taj Bradley pitching line: 5IP 5H 1R (earned) 4BB 7K 106 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 7th on a sac fly by Jesus Sanchez that scored Clement-
• Final score: Twins 8 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• A day after Eric Lauer had an inning snowball on him, Max Scherzer couldn't get out of the 3rd inning and gave up 8 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 hit batters over 2 innings. Scherzer looked great in the 1st inning, retiring the side in order and  making it look easy. From there, it was all down hill. It's hard to see a role for Scherzer once everyone is healthy. The Blue Jays certainly can't have Scherzer only lasting a couple of innings and making the bullpen pick up the slack every 5 days.
• The bullpen was sharp today, holding the Twins to 2 hits while walking none and striking out 9 over the last 6 innings once Joe Mantiply escaped the 3rd inning. Tommy Nance, Mason Fluharty, Louis Varland and Jeff Hoffman threw a perfect inning each and got a combined 8 strikeouts.
• The Twins were 1-2 on ABS challenges. The Blue Jays did not challenge any pitches today.
• Offensively, Daulton Varsho drove in a run right away in the 1st inning and Jesus Sanchez knocked in Ernie Clement, who deserves another day in the leadoff spot after a strong 3-5 effort and scoring both Blue Jays runs today
• Where was the effort from Vlad after he hit one off the end of the bat in the 9th inning. You have to run that one out. Yes, the Blue Jays were going to lose, but be a pro and try on every play. Vlad's supposed to be a team leader and should be leading by example.
• The Blue Jays were a pathetic 2-14 with runners in scoring position.
• Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays  open a 9-game road trip that begins in Milwaukee. The Brewers won the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 15-11. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Brewers righty Jacob Misiorowski

Game #15 - Minnesota Twins (8-7) v. Toronto Blue Jays (6-8)

 

Game #14 - Minnesota Twins (8-7) @ Toronto Blue Jays (6-8) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the Twins came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 7-4

After a strong comeback win over the Twins yesterday thanks to a solid team effort offensively, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the winning streak to 3 games and notch their 2nd series win of the season. Eric Lauer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Davis Schneider was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 2nd series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.? 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Daulton Varsho whacked a 2-run blast to right-center and into the Twins bullpen; also scoring George Springer
•  The Twins got one back in the top of the 3rd as Brooks Lee smacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Five batters later, Byron Buxton was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Ryan Jeffers
• A batter later, Josh Bell singled scoring Austin Martin and Luke Keaschall
• Two batters later, Trevor Larnach hammered a three run bomb off the second deck in right; also scoring Jeffers and Bell 
• Eric Lauer pitching line: 5.1IP 5H 7R (all earned) 5BB 3K 95 pitches (53 for strikes)\
• George Springer left the game after his second AB after fouling a ball off his big toe and fracturing it.
• Joe Ryan pitching line: 7IP2H 2R (both earned) 1BB 5K 91 pitches (65 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom of the 9th as Jesus Sanchez drilled a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Final score: Twins 7 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Eric Lauer battled through 5.1 innings, giving up 7 runs on 5 hits while walking 5 and striking out 3. One inning, the 3rd, snowballed on him to the tune of 7 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Lauer actually retired 6 of the 7 batters he faced. Maybe he should have done what Shohei Ohtani did on Wednesday and tied his shoelaces a few times in the 3rd inning to slow things down a bit. That was important that Lauer pitch into the 6th inning with Scherzer due to start tomorrow and liable to blow out his arm the way the Blue Jays injury luck has gone this season (he is dealing with forearm tightnessm often a precursor to UCL tears).
• Spencer Miles was outstanding today, finishing the game to save the bullpen for tomorrow. Miles held the Twins to a hit and a walk while striking out 2 over 3.2 innings. The Bllue Jays could have some interesting decisions to make once they start getting some injured bodies back since there is only room for 5 pitchers in the rotation. The Blue Jays could opt for a 6-man rotation once or twice, but that's not sustainable since pitchers are creatures of habit and an extra day of rest doesn't necessarily mean they will have their best stuff going.
• And the injury bug continues to hit the Blue Jays hard. This time, George Springer went down with a fractured big toe after fouling a ball off it in his second AB. While Springer completed the at-bat, he was clearly in pain running to 1st base on the ground out. Best case scenario would see Springer back in 2-4 weeks if it's not a displaced fracture. Likely Eloy Jimenez gets the callup and you could see a platoon of players filling the void both at DH and at the leadoff spot.
• Offensively, Daulton Varsho went deep in the 1st inning and Jesus Sanchez went deep in the 9th inning. With Springer now probably out at least a couple of weeks, the Blue Jays are going to be searching for runs even more.
• The Blue Jays were a perfect 3-3 on ABS challenges and the Twins were successful on their one ABS challenge. I'm a little surprised teams aren't challenging more often, considering there are some bad/gullible umpires who routinely fall for catchers dramatically moving their gloves back in the strike zone. I guess with only 2 challenges, one would want to be pretty sure that the call is incorrect
• The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position\
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to end the home stand with a win and notch their 2nd series win of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Twins righty Taj Bradley.

Game #14 - Minnesota Twins (7-7) v. Toronto Blue Jays (6-7)

 

Game #13 - Minnesota Twins (7-7) @ Toronto Blue Jays (6-7) - game recap

 

Davis Schneider scored twice and drove in 2 runs in a 10-4 comeback win over the Twins

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After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened a series against the Twins. The Blue Jays took the season series last year outscoring the Twins 38-33. Patrick Corbin got the start with Patrick Valenzuela behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF and Jesus Sanchez was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and start the weekend with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Twins took the lead in the top of the 1st as Ryan Jeffers whacked a 3-run blast to left-center; also scoring Austin Martin and Luke Keaschall
• The Twins added a run in the top of the 4th as Brooks Lee belted a solo jack to left
• The Blue jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Jesus Sanchez doubled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr 
• Two batters later, Davis Schneider doubled home Sanchez
• Two batters later, Andres Gimenez singled scoring Schneider
• A batter later, Brandon Valenzuela smashed a 2-run blast to right and into the Twins bullpen; also scoring Gimenez
• Patrick Corbin pitching line: 4IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 3K 85 pitches (52 for strikes)
• Simeon Woods Richardson pitching line: 4IP 6H 5R (all earned) 1BB 2K 68 pitches (47 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Daulton Varsho drilled a solo blast to right-center
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Ernie Clement doubled scoring Schneider
• Three batters later, George Springer doubled scoring Clement
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottiom of the 7th as Schneider singled scoring Guerrero Jr.
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Valenzuela
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 Twins 4

My Take:

• Paatrick Corbin battled through 4 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. The Blue Jays might have rushed him to play in the majors with the current health of the starting rotation with 8 starters either too hurt to play, playing hurt or very ill. If Corbin plays well, he might get a spot in the bullpen, but he won't be in the rotation when Jose Berrios, Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber return from the IL.
• The bullpen slammed the door shut with 5 shutout innings, giving up 1 hit, walking 1 and striking out nine. Lefty Joe Mantiply, who struck out the side in his inning of work, was credited with the win. Brayden Fisher, who had 2 perfect innings and struck out 4 also deserves an honorable mention.
• The offense started rolling in the 5th inning and plated at leas one run in each of the last 4 innings. Davis Schneider (2RBI, 2 runs scored), Vlad (an RBI, 2 runs scored) and Brandon Valenzuela (2 runs scored, including a 2-run HR, the first of his big-league career) led the way. 
• Every Blue Jays starter except Kazuma Okamoto had a hit and either scored a run or drove in a run. It was a team effort tonight.
• The Twins were 1-2 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays were 2-2 with ABS challenges.
• The Blue Jays were 5-14 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and to notch their 2nd series win of the season. Eric Lauer starts against Twins righty Joe Ryan