Saturday, August 18, 2018

Game #123 Toronto Blue Jays (55-68) @ New York Yankees (77-46) - game recap

Miguel Andujar was 3-5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored as the Yankees knocked off the Blue Jays 11-6

After a rain-shortened game last night where mother nature did her version of the mercy rule, knowing the inept Blue Jays offence likely wasn't going to be able to come back vs. the octane powered Yankees bullpen. Today, Sean Reid-Foley made his second career start with battery mate Danny Jansen. Billy McKinney, the other piece acquired in the JA Happ trade made his Blue Jays debut batting lead-off against Yankees ace Luis Severino. Marcus Stroman, no surprise, is headed to the DL with a blister problem. His comments suggest that it might take a few weeks to get that sucker healed, potentially putting a return this season in jeopardy. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Yankees took an early lead in the bottom of the 1st as Didi Gregorius hit a 2-run HR into the bullpen also scoring Brett Gardner
  • The Yankees added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Gleyber Torres scored on a sac fly by Austin Romine
  • The Yankees added two more runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Miguel Andujar doubled home Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks
  • Two batters later, Andujar scored on a Greg Bird ground out 
  • The Yankees added yet another run in the bottom of the 4th as Stanton hit a solo HR to left-center
  • Sean Reid-Foley pitching line: 4.1IP 7H 8R (6 earned) 3BB 6K 96 pitches (57 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got on the board in the top of the 6th as Justin Smoak singled scoring Curtis Granderson
  • Three batters later, Danny Jansen singled home Smoak
  • Three batters later, Billy McKinney doubled scoring Teoscar Hernandez, Jansen and Richard Urena
  • Luis Severino pitching line: 5IP 6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 8K 100 pitches (68 for strikes)
  • The Yankees added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Bird led off with a towering shot off the basing of the 2nd deck in right
  • Five batters later Shane Robinson scored on a bases loaded walk to Hicks
  • A batter later, Gardner scored on a sac fly by Didi Gregorius
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 9th as Kevin Pillar singled home Devon Travis
  • Final score: Yankees 11 Blue Hays 6
My Take

  • Another rough one for SRF. He gave up 8 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks and a pair of errors by the defense. Reid-Foley gave up at least one run every inning today. He needs to continue working on his command as this is the biggest thing that is hurting him right now. Despite the two difficult starts, he stands to have a reasonable chance of being in the rotation next year, especially with the health concerns of Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman and Marco Estrada likely moving on in the off-season.
  • The Blue Jays got right back in the game when it looked like it would be a blow out, plating 5 runs on 5 hits and a walk in the 6th. Unforunately, the bullpen gave up a further 3 runs to put the game out of reach.
  • I liked the play of Billy McKinney today. He looked like a seasoned veteran in left field and drove in half of the Blue Jays runs today on a single/error and just missed making it to third base on the play.
  • Every Blue Jays starter but Devon Travis had a hit today
  • Danny Jansen deserves to be on the Blue Jays roster to start the season. He looks good offensively and the defensive flaws can be sorted in the majors.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays face former teammate JA Happ in the finale of this series. Ryan Borucki takes the ball for the Blue Jays. Like Stroman, Borucki had a blister issue last time out so it will be interesting to see how long he lasts.