Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Game #120 Toronto Blue Jays (55-65) @ Kansas City Royals (36-84) - game recap

Curtis Granderson hit a bases clearing grand slam in the 4th to lead the Blue Jays to a 6-5 victory over the Royals 

After a hard fought win last night, the Blue Jays turned to "ace" Marco Estrada, who could be making his final start in a Blue Jays uniform as teams like the Brewers might want starting pitch for the stretch drive. Danny Jansen received the night off after catching his two battery mates from Buffalo the last two nights. The Blue Jays also swapped lefties, recalling Tim Mayza and demoting Thomas Pannone. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Royals took the lead in bottom of the 1st as Salvador Perez hit a 2 run HR to left-center also scoring Whit Merrifield
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the to of the 2nd as Kevin Pillar singled home Teoscar Hernandez
  • The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 4th as Pillar singled scoring Hernandez
  • Four batters later, Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam to right also scoring Pillar, Russell Martin and Aledmys Diaz
  • The Royals got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Perez hit a lead off homer to left
  • Jorge Lopez pitching line: 4.2IP 8H 6R (all earned) 2BB 3K 88 pitches (57 for strikes)
  • The Royals got another one back in the bottom of the 7th as Alcides Escobar singled to score Brett Phillips
  • Marco Estrada pitching line: 6.2IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 3K 94 pitches (65 for strikes)
  • The Royals got within a run in the bottom of the 9th as Ryan O'Hearn hit a solo HR to right
  • Ken Giles managed to get through the 9th allowing just the one run for his 15th save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 6 Royals 5
My Take

  • Marco Estrada pitched a solid game today, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits over 7 innings. He had perfect innings in the 2nd, 3rd and 5th innings. Hopefully the Brewers were tuning into tonight's game because what they would have seen is what Estrada is capable of doing when he is on. He induced a lot of lazy fly balls tonight and three of the runs allowed came off home runs when he missed his spot a bit. Estrada is serviceable as a back end starter or long reliever for any team in the playoff hunt.
  • Curtis Granderson also likely helped his trade value by launching a grand slam in a key situation to break a scoreless tie. To any GM's who might read this recap, you will recall that Granderson also hit a home run off Kimbrel earlier in the year to break a tie game.
  • Every Blue Jays starter but Luke Maile and Justin Smoak had at least one hit today
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win as Sam Gaviglio takes on Royals rookie Glenn Sparkman, who will be making his first MLB start