Saturday, April 7, 2018

Game #8 Toronto Blue Jays (5-3) @ Texas Rangers (3-6) - game recap

Russell Martin was 3-4 at the plate, driving in 3 runs, pacing the Blue Jays to victory

The Toronto Blue Jays started their first road trip of the season tonight vs. rivals Texas Rangers. The series won't be the same this year without Joey Bats in the lineup to stir things up. The Blue Jays are looking to build off a successful first homestand where they went 4-3. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • Russell Martin opened the scoring with a single that center fielder Drew Robinson misplayed, allowing Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak to score
  • The next batter Kendrys Morales hit a sac fly to right, scoring Yangervis Solarte
  • Donaldson singled in the top of the 4th scoring Devon Travis
  • Smoak hit a sac fly to left scoring Steve Pearce
  • Martin singled scoring Donaldson
  • Matt Moore pitching line: 3.1IP 6R (5 earned) 4BB 1K 73 pitches (38 for strikes)
  • Solarte and Martin hit back-to-back solo HR with 2 out in the 6th 
  • Shin-Soo Choo hit a solo HR in the bottom half of the 6th to put the Rangers on the board
  • Marco Estrada pitching line: 6IP 5H 1R (earned) 1BB 7K 105 pitches (69 for strikes)
  • Drew Robinson singled home Rougned Odor
  • the next batter, Choo doubled home Robinson
  • Elvis Andrus singled home Choo
  • Adrian Beltre doubled home Andrus
  • Roberto Osuna notched his 3rd save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 8 Rangers 5
My Take:

  • The Blue Jays had their first rain interrupted game of the season. With the slick field, concern has to be for Donaldson and Travis who struggled with injuries the past 2 seasons. Travis especially has to be careful with his knee.
  • Rangers starter Matt Moore really struggled to locate his pitches this game. The Blue Jays took full advantage by being patient at the plate and getting timely hits. Even the reliever who came in for him, ex-Jay Jesse Chavez was having trouble locating his pitches. He was forced to throw 26 more pitches in the inning to get the last 2 outs.
  • By contrast, Jays starter Marco Estrada was cruising along for most of the game. The only inning he got into trouble was his last and that could probably be attributed to fatigue. Estrada left the bases loaded that inning and escaped the jam when he got catcher Robinson Chirinos to fly out. Estrada has been the Blue Jays best starting pitcher so far. He went 7 strong innings in his first start.
  • The Blue Jays bullpen bent but did not break tonight. They gave up 8 hits and 4 runs over 3 innings of work. Aaron Loup gave up a single, 2 doubles and 3 runs. Seung-hwan Oh, who came in next, allowed a single, double and 1 run. Ryan Tepera had the cleanest inning. He gave up a single that was erased on a double play a batter later.
  • Overall, it was a good baseball game of patience at the plate, timely hitting and a solid pitching performance by Estrada. Next up, Marcus Stroman takes the mound tomorrow night as the Blue Jays look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. The Rangers counter with southpaw Mike Minor