Game #47 - Toronto Blue Jays (21-26) @ New York Yankees (29-19) - game recap

Ernie Clement hit a 3-run HR, drove in 4 runs and scored twice in a losing effort as the Yankees came from behind to edge the Blue Jays 7-6

After a huge road series win thanks to the bats of Vlad and Daulton Varsho and 6 shutout innings from ace Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to three games as they faced their division rivals, the NY Yankees for the first time this season in a rematch of last year's ALDS. The Blue Jays took the season series 8-5 last year, outscoring the Yankees 70-59. Patrick Corbin got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. George Springer and Kazuma Okamoto were both in the lineup after complete days off yesterday. Ernie Clement was at SS and Lenyn Sosa was at 2B. Davis Schneider got the start in LF and Myles Straw was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• George Springer got his 1500th hit with a leadoff single in the 1st inning\
• The Yankees opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Paul Goldschmidt whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right-center
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 4th as Ernie Clement whacked a 3-run blast to left-center; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto
• The Yankees got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by JC Escarra that scored Anthony Volpe
• A batter later, Goldschmidt doubled scoring Max Schuemann
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 5th as George Springer smacked a solo blast to left-center and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Patrick Corbin pitching line: 4IP 6H 3R (all earned) 3BB 3K 79 pitches (47 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th on a fielder's choice hit by Clement that scored Lenyn Sosa
• Ryan Weathers pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 5R (all earned) 0BB 7K 90 pitches (59 for strikes)
• The Yankees tied it in the bottom of the 7th as Cody Bellinger hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Aaron Judge
• Two batters later, Jazz Chisholm Jr. smacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in left and off the left foul pole; also scoring Trent Grisham
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 9th as Jesus Sanchez doubled scoring Clement
• David Bednar got the last 3 outs for his 11th save of the season
• Final score: Yankees 7 Blue Jays 6

My Take:

• Patrick Corbin battled through 4 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. The team needed a shutdown inning from him after taking the lead in the top of the 4th but couldn't get it done in a bizarre inning that saw Davis Schneider drop a fly ball, Brandon Valenzuela commit a fielding error and later missing a tag. Corbin could not have had a worst start to the game, getting taken deep on the first pitch he threw to leadoff man Paul Goldschmidt. At least the offense was able to bail him out at the end so he got a no-decision
• As for the bullpen, rookie Canadian Adam Macko did his job, retiring all three batters he faced. Veteran Yariel Rodriguez, not so much. Just recalled, YRod was taken deep twice and gave up 4 runs and retired just one batter. At least Jeff Hoffman rebounded from a few tough outings and got out of the mess YRod created.
• It was the Ernie Clement show tonight. Erndog, who has the bizarre ritual of using his teammates bats when his aren't working, hit a huge 3-run HR to give the Blue Jays a brief lead, drove in 4 overall and scored twice. Davis Schneider had a rough day at the office, striking out twice, but at least he was successful in his ABS challenge. At the end of the day, the big bats haven't come through at the crucial times on too many nights. Springer struck out swinging and Vlad followed that up by grounding out to end the game.
• Both teams were 1-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 1-9 with runners in scoring position - not good enough
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Dylan Cease starts against Yankees righty Will Warren

Game #47 Toronto Blue Jays (21-25) @ New York Yankees (28-19)

 

Game #46 - Toronto Blue Jays (21-25) @ Detroit Tigers (20-27) - game recap

 

Kevin Gausman threw six shutout innings in a 4-1 win over the Tigers.

After a huge win yesterday thanks to a clutch hit off the bat of Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 6th series win of the season. Tommy Nance was placed on the 15 day IL with right forearm tightness. Lefty Adam Macko was recalled from AAA-ball. Ace Kevin Gausman got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Lenyn Sosa at 1B. Kazuma Okamoto got the complete day off with Ernie Clement at the hot corner and Davis Schneider at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins and notch their 6th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. belted a solo jack to left
• Two batters later, Daulton Varsho scored on a wild pitch by Jack Flaherty
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Varsho tripled scoring Guerrero Jr.
• A batter later, Varsho scored on a sac fly by Jesus Sanchez
• Jack Flaherty pitching line: 6IP 5H 4R (all earned) 0BB 4K 90 pitches (62 for strikes)
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 0BB 5K 97 pitches (61 for strikes)
• The Tigers got one back in the bottom of the 8th on a fielder's choice hit by Jahmal Jones that scored Wenceel Perez
• Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless 9th for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Tigers 1

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman fired 6 shutout innings, scattering 4 hits, walking none and striking out 5. He retired 7 in a row at one point. Gausman has regressed a bit in terms of his effectiveness, perhaps starting to show his age? Nonetheless, Gausman got a very big 18 outs to save the bullpen for a huge series starting tomorrow at Yankee stadium
• The bullpen gave up a run on 2 hits while walking 2 and strikinng out 2 over the last 3 innings. Tyler Rogers and Joe Mantiply struggled to find the strike zone and Rogers almost certainly won't pitch tomorrow night since he had a tough inning and pitched Saturday.Here's hoping no other relievers require an IL stint since Schneider mentioned a couple of relievers being banged up.
• Boy did Vlad need that home run to open the scoring. He scored twice, including the home run. Daulton Varsho also had a solid day with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Lenyn Sosa and Davis Schneider probably won't be on the big league squad much longer once Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes come back.
• Lots of ABS challenges today. The Blue Jays were 2-1 and the Tigers were 1-2 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 1-3 with runners in scoring position.
• Up next, the Blue Jays continue the road trip in NY in a rematch of last year's ALDS. The Blue Jays took the season series 8-5 last year, outscoring the Yankees 70-59. Patrick Corbin starts against Yankees lefty Ryan Weathers.

Game #46 Toronto Blue Jays (20-25) @ Detroit Tigers (20-26)

 

Game #45 - Toronto Blue Jays (20-25) @ Detroit Tigers (20-26) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho had a clutch RBI base hit in the 10th to lead the Blue Jays to a clutch 2-1 extra innings comeback win over the Tigers

After a loss to the Tigers last night due to Jeff Hoffman being unable to get the game to extra innings, The Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season. It was a bullpen day with Mason Fluharty getting the start and Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Lenyn Sosa got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights: 

• Mason Fluharty pitching line: 1.1IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K 18 pitches (13 for strikes)
• The Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom of the 6th as Adam Vireling whacked a solo shot to left and into the Tigers bullpen
• Casey Mize pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 0BB 4K 71 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 7th as Yohendrick Pinago smackeda solo blast to right
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 10th as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Tigers 1 (10 innings)

My Take:

• Mason Fluharty did his part in today's bullpen game, pounding the strike zone, racking up 3 strikeouts and only allowing one hit. For at least the next month, the Blue Jays will have to cobble things together after the news that Jose Berrios will undergo elbow surgery next Wednesday putting him out a minimum 2 months and could be 12-18 months due to possible ligament damage. Shane Bieber, if no setbacks, could be back in the rotation sometime in June.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 11 over the last 8.2 innings. Louis Varland has slid into the closer/highest leverage role quite nicely. Got into a bit of trouble in the 9th but pitched his way out of it. Spencer Miles should be stretched out to a tranditional starters role.
• The offence is still very much ice cold. Yohendrick Pinago, who should not have been optioned to AAA-ball when Addison Barger returned from the IL for a game, knocked one out in the 7th to tie the game. Daulton Varsho drove in Vlad in the 10th inning and that was just enough to get the win. Vlad just looks lost at the plate.
• The Tigers were a perfect 2-0 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays were 1-1 on ABS challenges. You know things are going bad for Davis Schneider when he loses an ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 1-5 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try for 2 straight wins and to notch their 6th series win of the season. It will be a battle of the aces as Kevin Gausman takes on Tigers righty Jack Flaherty (that was a mistake in yesterday's recap, scrolled too far forward on mlb.com.