Sunday, April 1, 2018

Game #4 NY Yankees (2-2) @ Toronto Blue Jays (2-2) - game recap

Toronto provided an entertaining 1st win of the season yesterday, defeating the Bronx Bombers in a 5-3 back and forth win. Justin Smoak had a great day at the plate with a 3-4 effort. The Blue Jays were looking to split the opening series of the season. Here's today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • Russell Martin was thrown out at the plate by Aaron Judge
  • A batter later Devon Travis singled home Kevin Pillar
  • The Yankees struck back in the top half of the inning with Didi Gregorius doubling home Giancarlo Stanton
  • The next next batter Neil Walker singled home Gregorius
  •  Brandon Drury homered to double the Yankee lead; also scoring Walker
  • Marcus Stroman pitching line: 5IP 3H 4R (all earned) 3BB 8K 85 pitches (53 for strikes)
  • Sonny Gray pitching line: 4IP 7H 1R (earned) 3BB 8K 89 pitches (53 for strikes)
  • Justin Smoak crushed a 2 run HR to put the Blue Jays within 1; Donaldson scored too
  • Smoak crushed his second HR of the game and the first grand slam of the season, scoring Martin, Almedys Duaz and Donaldson
  • Seung-hwan Oh notched his first save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 7 Yankees 4
My Take: 

  • Toronto got this one on the strength of red hot Justin Smoak's bat. Smoak went 3-4 at the late again with 2 HR and had 6 RBI. He is continuing to have a great approach at the plate. He had an 8 pitch at bat on the grand slam. It was a really interesting decision by the Yankees to intentionally walk Donaldson, who has struggled at the plate, to pitch to Smoak with the bases loaded. If it was my decision, I would have pitched to JD in that situation.
  • Other than the 3rd inning, Stroman had a good first outing. He and Russell Martin did a good job, in spite of the small strike zone today.
  • I thought the Blue Jays pitchers did a great job all series long keeping the Yankees big 4 hitters, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius and Gary Sanchez, in check.Today, the Blue Jays were definitely pitching around Judge and Stanton as the pair had 5 walks between them. Stanton had 2 HR and a double on opening day but just a double the rest of the series. Judge was limited to 2 hits this series. Gregorius was a bit more dangerous but he saw better pitches as the lesser threat.
  • Splitting the opening series was a great result, especially considering the Blue Jays dropped the first 2 games.
  • Next up the White Sox come to town to open a three game series. The Blue Jays Jaimie Garcia makes his first start of the season and will be countered by righty Reynaldo Lopez. The White Sox game was snowed out today. Chicago comes into the series with a perfect 2-0 record.