Friday, April 13, 2018

Game #14 Toronto Blue Jays (9-5) @ Cleveland Indians (8-6) - game recap

Aledmys Diaz was 2-4 at the plate with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored as the Blue Jays doubled up on the Indians 8-4

Toronto began the final series of the opening road trip of the season. They won the first 2 series of the trip, defeating Texas and Baltimore. The Blue Jays will have to win this series without DH Kendrys Morales and 3B Josh Donaldson, who were both placed on the 10 day DL this week. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:
  • The Indians opened the scoring in the series in the bottom of the 1st on a Yonder Alons single that scored Francisco Lindor
  • Two batters later, Tyler Naquin doubled the lead with a single scoring Jose Ramirez
  • The next inning Lindor doubled to score ex-Jay Rajai Davis
  • The next batter Jason Kipnis hit a ground-rule double scoring Lindor
  • Kevin Pillar got the Blue Jays on the board in the top of the 4th with a single that scored Justin Smoak
  • The next batter Almedys Diaz tied the game with a 3 run HR that scored Yangervis Solarte and Pillar
  • Mike Clevinger pitching line: 4IP 3H 4R (all earned) 2BB 5K 82 pitches (48 for strikes)
  • Marcus Stroman pitching line: 5IP 9H 4R (all earned) 2BB 5K 99 pitches (62 for strikes)
  • Toescar Hernandez, recalled today from AAA Buffalo, smacked a double to left in the of of the 7th scoring Steve Pearce to give the Blue Jays their first lead of the series
  • Steve Pearce added a pair of insurance runs with a double to left scoring Diaz and Devon Travis
  • The next batter Hernandez plated Pearce with his own double
  • Final score: Blue Jays 8 Indains 4
My Take:

  • Marcus Stroman had a rough first 2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk. His only clean inning was in the 4th. Every other inning, the Indians had multiple runners on base. Stroman was forced to throw a lot of pitches and that led to an earlier exit.
  • On an injury note, Devon Travis was lifted in the 9th after taking a pitch off his right hand. He ran the bases, but Gift Ngoepe came in defensively in the bottom of the inning. We'll have to see if Travis can go tomorrow night. If he can't, three of the four  starting infielders will be out of the lineup (Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki being the other 2)
  • This game came down to one bullpen getting the job done and the other bullpen not being able to shut the door. In the top of the ninth, the Blue Jays got to Indians righty Matt Belisle, scoring three runs on a pair of doubles and a hit by pitch. By contrast the Blue Jays 'pen allowed just three hits over 4 innings of work. Tim Mayza, recalled a few days ago, has yet to make an appearance. He has not pitched competitively since spring training due to rainouts in Buffalo.
  • RF Randal Grichuk continues to struggle at the plate. He was 0-3 on the night but he did draw a walk. It will be interesting to see how much patience the Blue Jays will have with him.
  • Up next, Lefty Jaimie Garcia pitches against 2-time Cy Young winner (2014 and 2017) Corey Kluber. It should be a good pitching matchup.