Monday, April 30, 2018

Game #28 Toronto Blue Jays (16-12) @ Minnesota Twins (9-15) - game recap

Justin Smoak was 1-5 with a pair of RBI and 2 runs scored as the Blue Jays defeated the Twins 7-5 to finish April on a 2 game winning streak.

After a difficult homestand that saw Toronto win twice in six games, the Blue Jays started a week long road trip looking to carry the momentum of a solid effort Sunday to start the trip with a victory. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a squibbler with the bases loaded that Yangervis Solarte scored on
  • The next batter, Curtis Granderson, walked forcing in Kevin Pillar
  • Granderson scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 4th 
  • Two pitches later Justin Smoak crushed a 2 run HR that also scored Teoscar Hernandez
  • The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the 4th on a Logan Morrison groundout that scored Max Kepler
  • The Blue Jays restored the 5 run lead on a lead-off Russell Martin HR
  • The Twins got two back on a home run to straight away center in the bottom half of the inning by Eduardo Escobar that also scored Eddie Rosario
  • The next inning the Twins got within two on a Mitch Garver ground out that scored Robbie Grossman
  • Lance Lynn pitching line: 5IP 7H 6R (all earned) 5BB 4K 98 pitches (51 for strikes)
  • Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 6IP 6h 4R (all earned) 3BB 2K 93 pitches (55 for strikes)
  • The Twins got within 1 in the top of the 7th on a Kepler double that scored Joe Mauer
  • The Blue Jays added an insurance run in the 9th on a Solarte single that scored Smoak
  • Roberto Osuna notched his 7th save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 7 Twins 5
My Take:

  • The day started out with news that Randal Grichuk had injured his knee on the diving play he made yesterday against Texas. Defensively he will be missed as right field is an unnatural position for Teoscar Hernandez. Hernandez misplayed a line drive that led to a triple by Max Kepler, who came around to score 2 batters later. He also played a line drive perfectly off the wall in the 9th to prevent at least one run from scoring. Offensively, the Blue Jays might be better with out Grichuk who has struck out a lot this season.
  • Both the Twins and Blue Jays have had difficulty getting their starting pitchers to go deep into games. Twins starter Lance Lynn struggled through 5 innings and fell to 0-3. The score could have been much worse if the Blue jays had cashed in with the bases loaded. They loaded the bases in both the 2nd and 3rd innings but could only capitalize in the 2nd with a pair of runs off a single and a walk. 
  • Aaron Sanchez struggled a bit with command of his pitches but he was able to go an extra inning thanks to a quick 6 pitch inning in the 1st.
  • Every Blue Jay got on base today and all but Kendrys Morales and Curtis Granderson got a hit. This indicates that the team was seeing the ball well and being selective on their swings.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays look to extend the win streak to three games and start May off on a winning note as Marco Estrada takes on Kyle Gibson