Game #97 Baltimore Orioles (28-71) @ Toronto Blue Jays (45-52) - game recap

Marcus Stroman threw seven strong innings as the Blue Jays defeated the Orioles 4-1

JA Happ is still a Blue Jay. Will he start tomorrow? Before that game happens, the Blue jays had a game today and Marcus Stroman was on the mound looking to bounce back from a not so good start last Sunday against Boston. Josh Donaldson is slowly progressing from the calf injury but has not anticipated return date. Last night's game was a bit wild. The Blue Jays had a 7-2 lead after seven innings but the Orioles came back with a pair in the 8th and 3 off Tyler Clippard in the 9th. The Blue Jays walked it off in the 10th. Thanks to Sam Gaviglio's strong 7.2 inning performance, the Blue Jays have a rested bullpen for this weekend. Randal Grichuk is in center field with the absence of Kevin Pillar. Could the Blue Jays extend the winning streak to 2 games? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Orioles took the lead in the top of the first as Adam Jones singled, scoring Tim Beckham
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 4th as Randal Grichuk doubled home Justin Smoak
• Two batters later, the Blue Jays took the lead as Yangervis Solarte scored on a double play ball hit by Aledmys Diaz
• The Blue Jays extended the lead as the next batter, Luke Maile singled home Grichuk
• The Blue Jays added another run in the bottom of the 5th as Teoscar Hernandez scored on a balk by Alex Cobb
• Alex Cobb pitching line: 5IP 4H 4R (1 earned) 3BB 4K 88 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Marcus Stroman pitching line: 7IP 5H 1R (earned) 2BB 7K 107 pitches (71 for strikes)
• Ryan Tepera pitched a perfect 9th for his 7th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Orioles 1

My Take

• Marcus Stroman was excellent today, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and a pair of walks (three of the hits allowed were in the 1st inning). He was inducing a ton of ground ball outs, which is a good indicator that he was on today. Stroman had perfect innings in the 2nd and 7th.
• The bullpen was excellent today sending the Orioles batters down in order in the 8th and 9th innings after allowing 3 runs and blowing the save yesterday. 
• Luke Maile and Aledmys Diaz were both 2-3 and Maile drove in a run.
• Up next, JA Happ makes what could be his final start in a Blue Jays uniform as the Blue Jays go for the series sweep. Andrew Cashner will be pitching for the Orioles.