Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Game #126 Baltimore Orioles (37-89) @ Toronto Blue Jays (57-69) - game recap


Sam Gaviglio threw seven strong innings as the Blue Jays routed the Orioles 8-2

Which Sammy G showed  up tonight? Good Sammy G, who can pitch deep into the game or bad Sammy G, who gets knocked around and is out before half the fans have gotten to their seats? Luke Maile returned to the lineup after missing a few days with the birth of his beautiful daughter. Hopefully fatherhood gave Luke a shot in the arm and he hits for the cycle tonight. Justin Smoak cleared waivers earlier today. Expect to see the team dangle other players, like Clippard and Grandy with the unofficial August 31st deadline of acquiring players and having them eligible for the playoffs fast approaches in ten days. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights
  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Kendrys Morales singled scoring Chris Granderson
  • The Orioles tied it in the top of the 2nd on a Caleb Joseph single that scored Adam Jones
  • The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom the 2nd as Aledmys Diaz hit a solo HR to left-center
  • The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th as Billy McKinney singled home Morales and Kevin Pillar
  • The batters later, McKinney scores on a fielding error by Orioles third baseman Renato Nunez on a ball hit by Luke Maile
  • The Orioles got one back in the top of the 5th on a solo HR to right-center by Cedric Mullins
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Justin Smoak led of with a solo HR to left
  • The next batter, Morales, launched one over the wall in left-center
  • Dylan Bundy pitching line: 4IP 10H 7R (all earned) 0BB 3K 72 pitches (49 for strikes)
  • Two batters later, McKinney homered to right-center
  • Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 7IP 6H 2R (both earned) 1BB 7K 102 pitches (67 for strikes)
  • Final score: Blue Jays 8 Orioles 2
My Take

  • Sam Gaviglio had a nice bounce back start after getting smacked around by the Royals in his last start. He threw seven strong innings while scattering 6 hits and allowing a pair of runs. He had perfect innings in the 1st, 4th and 6th innings. After a rough first inning, where he loaded the bases and escaped allowing just a single run, he settled down and gave up two more hits and walked a batter over the next 6 innings. Gaviglio has been much better pitching at home (2-1 with a 2.68ERA in 11 appearances (9 starts) at home vs a 1-5 record and 8.36 ERA on the road). Maybe he should wear his home jersey under his road jersey when pitching on the road
  • The Orioles were ugly defensively. It looked at times like Teoscar Hernandez had snuck across the field and played in LF for Baltimore.
  • Kendrys Morales continues to be on fire. He had three more hits tonight and scored a pair of runs and drove in two others.
  • Every Blue Jays starter but Devon Travis had at least one hit tonight.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series sweep and their 10th straight win against the Orioles as Blue Jays rookie Thomas Pannone becomes the 7th Blue Jays pitcher to make his first MLB start. He'll be facing Orioles righty David Hess