Sunday, July 22, 2018

Game #98 Baltimore Orioles (28-72) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-52) - game recap

Yangervis Solarte hit a go-ahead 2-run HR in the bottom of the 8th as the Blue Jays edged the Orioles 5-4 to complete their second consecutive sweep of the struggling Orioles team

Well, here we are with what could be JA Happ's last start in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform. Happ had his career year in 2016 when he had a record of 20-4 with a 3.18ERA. He finished 6th in Cy Young voting that season. This year, Happ has easily been the Blue Jays most consistent starter, giving the team a chance to win every 5 days. Happ will be missed in the Blue Jays rotation. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th as Yangervis Solarte doubled home Kendrys Morales
  • The Orioles tied it in the  in the top of the 5th as Jace Peterson singled, scoring Renato Nunez
  • JA Happ pitching line: 5IP 4H 1R (earned) 0BB 9K 102 pitches (64 for strikes)
  • The Orioles took the lead in the top of the 6th as Jonathan Schoop launched a solo shot into the Blue Jays bullpen
  • Andrew Cashner pitching line: 5.2IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 2K 79 pitches (51 for strikes)
  • The Orioles added another run in the top of the 8th as Nunez doubled home Schoop
  • Mark Trumbo scored another Oriole run on the next play as Trey Mancini hit a ball up the middle and SS Aledmys Diaz and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ran into each other allowing the run and Mancini to be safe on the play.
  • The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning on a 2 run HR into the 2nd deck by Randal Grichuk that also scored Curtis Granderson
  • Three batters later, Solarte hit a 2 run shot of his own that barely cleared the fence in left-center; also scoring Devon Travis
  • Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless 9th to pick up his 7th save of the season 
  • Final score Blue Jays 5 Orioles 4
My Take 

  • JA Happ gave the fans a fine pitching performance in what could be his last start in a Blue Jays uniform. Happ threw 5 solid innings of 4 hit ball, allowing just the one run off a single. He struck out nine Orioles batters, including five in the first two innings. JA Happ will give a contending team a solid starting pitcher who generally has great command and should give you the chance to win every five days. At this point, the Yankees appear to be front runners for his services along with Milwaukee and the Chicago Cubs. Happ's next scheduled start is either Friday or Saturday. At this point, he will either pitch if a deal is not imminent, already be traded or be scratched if a deal is imminent. Stay tuned...
  • Yangervis Solarte had a great day at the plate, with a 2-4 effort, including driving in the tying run and scoring the winning run on a 2 run shot in the bottom of the 8th
  • Randal Grichuk also had a good day hitting a key 2 run HR to get the Blue Jays within one.
  • The Blue Jays did a really good job at managing their at-bats. They struck out a season-low 4 times today.
  • On the other hand, Blue Jays pitchers struck out 15 Orioles batters
  • This series was probably closer than it should have been, thanks to the bullpen allowing too many runs. I definitely held my breath in the 9th inning. Although Clippard did hit a batter, he got the next 2 batters out to save the ball game.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays begin a 3-game series against the Minnesota Twins, who they beat twice in the beginning of May/end of April. Marco Estrada is tentatively scheduled to come off the disabled list to pitch this one. He'll be matched up against Twins lefty Adalberto Mejia.