Game #12 Los Angeles Dodgers (9-2) v. Toronto Blue Jays (4-7)

Game #11 - LA Dodgers (9-2) @ Toronto Blue Jays (4-7) - game recap

 

Andres Gimenez drove in the Blue Jays only run in a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers

After a brutal blowout loss to the Dodgers after the bullpen imploded and the offense did next to nothing, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 5-game skid and avoid their 3rd series loss of the season. Lefty Patrick Corbin was activated from A-ball and lefty Josh Fleming was DFA'd. Addison Barger was placed on the 10-day IL with an ankle sprain and infielder Tyler Fitzgerald was recalled from AAA-ball. Alejandro Kirk had a screw placed in his thumb and is expected to miss 6 weeks. Cody Ponce could be done for the year after ACL surgery next week. Kevin Gausman got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 5-game skid and avoid their 3rd series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Dodgers opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Shohei Ohtani singled scoring Hyeseong Kim
• Two batters later,  Alex Freeland scored on a fielder's choice hit by Will Smith
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 5th as Freeland singled home Kim
• John Schneider was ejected in the top of the 5th for arguing a balk call against Kevin Gausman
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5.1IP 5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 5K 84 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 6th as George Springer doubled scoring Andres Gimenez
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching line: 6IP 5H 1R (earned) 1BB 6K 97 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 9th as Kyle Tucker singled scoring Freeland
• Edwin Diaz pitched a scoreless 9th for his 4th save of the season
• Final score: Dodgers 4 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman threw 5.1 solid innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. Other than the 3rd and 5th innings, Gausman held the Dodgers to a leadoff walk in the 1st to Shohei Ohtani. Very nice to see John Schneider defend him on a brutal balk call that eventually allowed the 3rd Dodger run to score. Gausman should be getting some Cy Young votes and early consideration to make the all-star team.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. Louis Varland was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced. You simply cannot give up an insurance run to this team, which has shown why they won back-to-back world series.
• The Blue Jays offense continues to sputter. They are just 1-17 with the bases loaded. Myles Straw is the only one hitting over .300 and there are three players hitting below the Mendoza line, or .200 average: George Springer (.159), Daulton Varsho (.171), Nathan Lukes (.118) and Brandon Valenzuela (.143)
• The Blue Jays were 3-12 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 6 game losing streak and avoid being swept for the 2nd consecutive series. Dylan Cease starts against Dodgers righty Shohei Ohtani.

Game #11 Los Angeles Dodgers (8-2) v. Toronto Blue Jays (4-6)

 

Game #10 - LA Dodgers (8-2) @ Toronto Blue Jays (4-6) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement drove in a run in a 14-2 blowout loss to the Dodgers

After another tough loss to the White Sox thanks to an ailing Eric Lauer, who wasn't well enough to help the team, and the inept offence. Lefty Josh Fleming was added to the MLB roster. Righty Austin Voth was DFA'd. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF and Myles Straw was in RF. Could the Blue Jays start the week with a win and snap the four-game skid? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Dodgers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Teoscar Hernandez whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Kyle Tucker
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Ernie Clement singled scoring George Springer
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 2IP 2H 2R (both earned) 1BB 2K 36 pitches (24 for strikes)
• The Dodgers added a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd as Freddie Freeman belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Shohei Ohtani
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Tucker that scored Dalton Rushing 
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 5th on a double play ball hit by Alex Freeland that scored Max Muncy
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 6th as Ohtani hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• Four batters later, Alan Pages doubled scoring Tucker and Hernandez
• Justin Wrobleski pitching line: 5IP 2H 1R (earned) 4BB 2K 78 pitches (42 for strikes)
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 7th as Rushing whacked a solo blast to right-center
• Four batters later, Freeman doubled scoring Heyseong Kim
• A batter later Hernandez singled home Tucker and Freeman
• The Dodgers added a run in the top of the 8th as Rushing hammered a solo bomb to right-center
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 9th on a ground out hit by Andres Gimenez that scored Daulton Varsho
• Final score: Dodgers 14 Blue Jays 2

My Take:-

• Max Scherzer battled through 2 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. His velocity was down and he gave up a 2-run HR to ex-Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez, who knows the Rogers Centre well. Scherzer was forced to leave with forearm tightness, a classic precursor to UCL surgery. Apparently the team was so desperate for a starter that they let him pitch with the injury. A bit of deja vu, since Scherzer also didn't last long in his regular season debut last year. It's time to review the medical staff for letting players play hurt.
• The bullpen, running on fumes, gave up 12 runs on 15 hits while walking 4 and striking out 6 over the last 7 innings. To be fair, lower leverage relievers were used for the most part once the game was out of hand. The Blue Jays must have had a sense that Scherzer might not be able to go long since they recalled long reliever Josh Fleming, who gave the Blue Jays 3 innings. Tyler Heineman was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced.
• The offense, even at its peak, probably wouldn't have overcome this deficit, but scoring twice won't be enough to defeat a deep Dodgers roster, who showed why they are 2-time defending champs tonight
• The Blue Jays were 1-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 5-game losing streak and avoid their 3rd series loss of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamaoto, the MVP of last year's world series, who was basically unhittable in that series.

Game #10 Los Angeles Dodgers (7-2) v. Toronto Blue Jays (4-5)