Game #6 Colorado Rockies (1-4) v. Toronto Blue Jays (4-1)

 

Game #5- Colorado Rockies (1-4) @ Toronto Blue Jays (4-1) - game recap-

 

Max Scherzer threw 6 solid innings in a 5-1 victory over the Rockies

After a blowout loss last night after Cody Ponce left the game with an injury and the bullpen imploded, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 1st series loss of the season. Ponce was placed on the 15-day IL with a right ACL sprain. Righty Lazaro Estrada was recalled from AAA-ball. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 1st series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Ryan Feltner pitching line: 3IP 1H 0R 1BB 4K 47 pitches (30 for strikes)
• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 5th as Jesus Sanchez singled scoring Daulton Varsho 
• A batter later?  Tyler Heineman was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr 
• The Rockies got one back in the top of the 6th as Hunter Goodman hammered s solo bomb to the second deck in left-center 
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 4K 83 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Myles Straw 
• A batter later, Nathan Lukes singled scoring Guerrero Jr.  Okamoto was thrown out at 3B on the play
• A batter after that, Ernie Clement doubled home Lukes
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Rockies 1

My Take:

• Max Scherzer gave the Blue Jays what they needed: 6 solid innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. The wiley veteran retired the first four batters he faced and was able to make pitches when he had to to get out of jams. Scherzer will certainly be in the rotation at least a few more turns after the injury to Ponce and the other injured starters at least a couple of weeks away from returning. There's also concern with the health of Scherzer, who battled a thumb issue last season. He's still capable of being a solid starter when he's healthy.
• The bulpen did its job, limiting the Rockies to 3 hits while walking none and striking out 2 over the last 3 innings. Nice to see Jeff Hoffman looking sharp despite the non-save situation.
• The bats came up clutch in the 5th and 7th innings, rallying for 5 runs on 8 hits and a walk. Vlad drove in a run and scored once. Nathan Lukes also drove in a run and scored a run
• Every Blue Jays starter had a hit and all but George Springer and Andres Gimenez either scored or drove in a run.
• That was a great response to getting blown out by the worst team in baseball last year
• The Blue Jays were 3-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 2nd series win of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland

Game #5 Colorado Rockies (1-3) v. Toronto Blue Jays (3-1)

 

Game #4 - Colorado Rockies (1-3) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-1) - game recap

 

Davis Schneider hit a 2-run HR in a 14-5 blowout loss to the Rockies

After a solid sweep over the A;'s thanks to some lights out pitching from starters Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease and Eric Lauer, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the winning streak to 4 games as they kicked off a series against the Rockies. The Blue Jays swept the season series last year, outscoring the Rockies 45-6. Cody Ponce got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's win. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rockies opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd on a fielding error by Cody Ponce hit by Jake McCarthy that scored Kyle Karros. Ponce left the game a batter earlier with a knee injury on the play
• Cody Ponce pitching line: 2.1IP 1H 1R (earned) 1BB 3K 47 pitches (30 for strikes)
• The Blue jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as George Springer belted a solo jack to left-center
• The Rockies retook the lead in the top of the 4th on a fielding error by Ernie Clement on a ball hit by Jordan Beck that scored Ezequiel Tovar
• Tomoyuki Sugano pitching line: 4.2IP  2H 1R (earned) 2BB 4K 72 pitches (41 for strikes)
• The Rockies added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as  Troy Johnston whacked a 2- run blast to right; also scoring TJ Humfield
• Two batters later, Braxton Fulford singled scoring Beck
• Three batters later, Willi Castro doubled scoring Fulford and Brenton Doyle 
• A batter later, Ezequiel Tovar doubled scoring Castro and Hunter Goodman
• The Rockies added a run in the top of the 8th as formed Goodman doubled scoring Doyle
• Two batters later, Tovar doubled home Goodman
• A batter later Rumfield singled scoring Ryan Ritter
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom held of the inning as Andres Gimenez belted a solo jack to right- center
• Three batters later, Davis Schneider whacked a 2-run blast to left: also scoring Jesus Sanchez
• The Rockies added a run in the top of the 9th as Fulford smashed a solo blast to left-center 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Okamoto hammered a solo bomb just over the wall in straightaway center
• Final score: Rockies 14 Blue Jays 5

My Take:

• The Blue Jays are experiencing an early test of their rotation depth after Cody Ponce left the game in the 3rd inning after an awkward stumble trying to make a play on a ball hit in no-mans land between the mound and 1st base. Best case scenario would be an MCL sprain. Ponce gave up an earned run on a hit while walking 1 and striking out 3. Super unfortunate injury since he worked so hard to get back to the majors. Hopefully the injury is short term.
• There has to be early concern about Brandon Little, who came into a lower leverage situation since his first appearance n Friday. Little gave up 5 runs, 4 charged to him on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1. He needs his 4-seamer to have more life to it if he's going to be successful in the bigs. Tyler Rogers was the only reliever to retire every batter faced. The Blue Jays need Max Scherzer to thrrow some innings to give the bullpen a break tomorrow night
• The bats rallied a bit, but could not bring the score into a save situation. Andres Gimenez is the hottest hitter on the team and went deep for his first HR of the season
• The Blue Jays were 0-6 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 1st series loss of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Rockies righty Ryan Feltner

Game #4 Colorado Rockies (0-3) v. Toronto Blue Jays (3-0)