Sunday, July 1, 2018

Game #83 Detroit Tigers (37-48) @ Toronto Blue Jays (39-44) - game recap

Tigers RF Nicholas Castellanos hit a grand slam as the Tigers routed the Blue Jays 11-1

First of all, Happy Canada Day to everyone. Today is a day to be thankful for where we live and to celebrate 151 years of of confederation. Today is also a day to watch the Blue Jays go for their 3rd straight victory and snap and 2 game losing streak on Canada Day. The Blue Jays record on Canada Day is abysmal (13-26). Could the the Blue Jays prevail today? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Justin Smoak hit a ground-rule double that scored Teoscar Hernandez
  • The Tigers tied the game in the top of the 5th on a squeeze bunt by Leonys Martin that scored Niko Goodrum
  • The next batter, Nicholas Castellanos laced a grand slam that barely cleared the wall scoring JaCoby Jones, Victor Reyes and Jose Iglesias
  • The Tigers added two more in the top of the 6th on a 2 run single by Iglesias that scored Goodrum and James McCann
  • JA Happ pitching line: 5.2IP 10H 7R (all earned) 1BB 4K 97 pitches (61 for strikes)
  • Jordan Zimmerman pitching line: 7IP 5H 1R (earned) 0BB 6K 97 pitches (71 for strikes)
  • The Tigers added another 2 runs as Jones hit a 2 run HR to left-center that also plated Goodrum
  • Two batters later, Kevin Pillar leap up to rob Castellanos of a 2 run HR
  • Final score: Tigers 9 Blue Jays 1

My Take

  • JA Happ had an ugly 2 innings in the 5th and 6th. In those 2 innings he allowed 7 runs and 7 hits and a walk. Happ mostly cruised through the first four innings, retiring the first six batters of the game and allowing a single in the 3rd that was immediately erased by a double play on the next pitch, a double that was erased by an inning-ending grounder on the next pitch. He also allowed a lead-off single in the 4th that was erased by a double play. 
  • Devon Travis had a good day at the plate with a pair of hits in 3 AB.
  • Darnell Sweeney, who was called up from the Buffalo on Friday, came in as a defensive replacement at third base in the 9th. There were no plays that went his way in the inning. Sweeney last played in the majors in 2015 where he had 15 hits (3HR) in 85AB for the Philadelphia Phillies
  • I still don't like the idea of using Russell Martin in the field. The risk is too high that one or both of Martin and Maile being hurt in the same game. Maybe if we recalled Danny Jansen it would be OK to use Martin at SS or 3B.
  • The Canada Day curse continues for the Blue Jays. They have now lost three in a row on this day.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for both the series and season series win as the Tigers and Blue Jays wrap up play in the season series tomorrow.Lefty Ryan Borucki will make his second career start as Aaron Sanchez is still recovering from his bruised finger. Borucki will be up against Tigers righty Mike Fiers, who is 0-2 with a 5.93 ERA in 2 starts at the Roger's center.