Erik Gonzalez was 3-5 at the plate with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored as the Indians routed the Blue Jays 13-4 in the second game of today's double-header. Toronto won the first game 13-11 in 11 innings
Game highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring with a solo HR by Yangervis Solarte in the top of the 2nd
- The Indians tied it in the bottom of the 3rd as Francisco Lindor singled up the middle scoring Erik Gonzalez
- Josh Donaldson gave the Blue Jays the lead back in top of the 4th with a solo shot to left-center
- The Indians tied it in the bottom half of the inning as catcher Roberto Perez singled home Tyler Naquin
- Cleveland took the lead in the bottom of the 5th on a Jose Ramirez 2 run HR that also scored Jason Kipnis
- Five batters later Bradley Zimmer walked with the bases loaded to force in Yonder Alonso
- The next batter, Gonzalez hit a bases clearing double scoring Naquin, Perez and Zimmer
- The next batter Francisco Lindor doubled home Gonzalez
- Two batters later, Jose Ramirez doubled to score Lindor
- Jason Kipnis scored on a sac fly by the next batter, Michael Brantley
- Joe Biagini pitching line: 4.1IP 10H 6R (all earned) 1BB 4K 86 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Indians added one more in the bottom of the 6th as Gonzalez doubled to score Zimmer
- Adam Plutko pitching line: 7.1IP 6H 3R (all earned) 0BB 6K 104 pitches (76 for strikes)
- The Indians added yet another run in the 7th on a wild pitch that Ramirez scored on
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Aledmys Diaz hit a solo HR
- Toronto got one more in the 9th on a Dwight Smith Jr. ground out that Solarte scored on
- Final score: Indians 13 Blue Jays 4
My Take:
- The Indians got from their starting pitcher what the Blue Jays could not from Joe Biagini: 7+ strong innings of work. After a marathon 11 inning game in the first leg of the double header, in which Blue Jays relievers had to pit 6.2 innings after game 1 starter Jaimie Garcia got knocked around in the 4th inning of that game, the Blue Jays needed Biagini to go deep in this game. They certainly needed him to pitch longer than 4+ innings. Biaghini started out well enough needing just 25 pitches to get through the first couple of innings. However, the Indians hit him hard in the last 3 innings he was in the game. I'm still not convinced that this is the ideal role for Biagini. He could be better suited as the multi inning reliever that the team is in need of.
- Yangervis Solarte set a Blue Jays record for most hits in a double header with 8. Solarte had 5 hits in 6 AB in game one and a 3-4 effort in the second game
- Something to consider: the Blue Jays scored 3 of their 4 runs in the second game off solo HR. The Indians had a single 2 run HR this game and the remaining 11 runs were scored via some small ball. It drives me nuts when Buck Martinez rattles off HR stats for every single Blue Jay
- An injury note: Steve Pearce was put on the disabled list in between the games after leaving the first game with a rib injury. In his absence, Curtis Granderson and Randal Grichuk will see increased playing time.
- After the 2 marathon games, Toronto will need to call up some fresh arms in the bullpen. I suspect the team will opt for an 8-man unit at least until the off-day Monday
- Up next: the Blue Jays fly to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays. The starters for the opening game of the series will be Blue Jays Ace JA Happ taking on Rays righty Andrew Kittridge. Toronto will be hoping Happ has a similar outing to the one he pitched last Sunday where he went 7 strong innings.
