Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Game #16 Kansas City Royals (3-12) @ Toronto Blue Jays (11-5) - game recap

Blue Jays catcher Luke Maille hit a walkoff single as the Blue Jays defeated the Royals 5-4 in the second game of today's double header. They also won the first game 11-3.

The Blue Jays won the first game of today's double header as the offence put up 11 runs. They were looking to sweep the double dip today and win their 5th straight series (they won the one game played in Cleveland on the weekend and I say that counts as a series win.) Here is the game recap from the second game of today's double header.

Game Highlights:
  • The Royals opened the scoring in the second game in the top of the 1st as Lucas Duda was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in Jon Jay
  • The Royals doubled the lead in the top of the 3rd as Mike Moustakas doubled to center scoring White Merrifield
  • Abraham Almonte homered leading off the 6th to extend the Royals lead to 3
  • Joe Biaghini pitching line: 5.2IP 6H 3R (all earned) 3BB 4K 106 pitches (65 for strikes)
  • Danny Duffy pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 3BB 8K 100 pitches (64 for strikes)
  • After Royals reliever Justin Grimm walked the bases loaded, Luke Maille jumped on the next reliever, Brad Keller, and lined a single to right scoring Almedys Diaz and Kevin Pillar
  • The next batter, pinch hitter Devon Travis, hit an infield single to score Randal Grichuk
  • The next batter, Steve Pearce, singled to score Maille
  • The Royals tied it in the top of the 8th, courtesy of an Alcides Escobar solo HR
  • Maille hit a walk-off single to right in the bottom of the tenth, scoring Pillar
  • Final score: Blue Jays 5 Royals 4
My Take:
  •  Joe Biaghini had a decent start under difficult circumstances. The Buffalo Bisons have had several of their games wiped out due to  weather, so Biaghini was pitching for the first time since April 9th. He had a difficult first inning, loading the bases and allowing a run on a hit batter. Biaghini settled down after that, allowing 4 more hits and another run and a walk.
  • I've said it on here before, pitch counts are a bit ridiculous. Danny Duffy had a 2 hit shutout going when he was pulled after 6 innings. No Blue Jay had really touched him. The Blue Jays made them pay with a big inning in the 7th. The first reliever, Justin Grimm walked the bases loaded. Then Toronto got three straight hits and 4 runs off the next reliever, Brad Keller. If I'm Royals Manager Ned Yost, I send Duffy out to start the 7th and have relievers ready in the bullpen.
  • More late game heroics from the Blue Jays today. They have now scored 36 runs from the 7th inning on, first in the AL, second in the MLB behind the Cubs. These late inning heroics will be beneficial as the season wears on and runs become harder to come by.
  • Next up, the Blue Jays wrap up this brief home stand with Aaron Sanchez pitching against Ian Kennedy.