Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Game #133 Toronto Blue Jays (60-73) @ Baltimore Orioles (40-94) - game recap

Adam Jones was 2-5, including the go-ahead grand slam in the 5th as the Orioles came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays and sweep them for the first time since September 15-17, 2014

Welp, that was quick. Word came out this afternoon that Josh Donaldson injured his calf (again) in last night's rehab game. He was pulled after five innings, apparently scheduled, and came in this morning feeling sore. This pretty much eliminates any chance he is traded by Friday. But, let's focus on the big league team that's actually playing. Tonight, the Blue Jays were looking to get back on track and snap the three game losing streak. Ryan Borucki, rookie phenom, was on the mound hoping to play stopper. Billy McKinney was the latest player to bat lead-off. Devon Travis, Steve Pearce, Curtis Granderson, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk, Dwight Smith Jr., Yangervis Solarte, and Russell Martin have all batted lead-ff at least once with varying success. Could the Blue Jays win again? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Blue Jays took an early lead as Justin Smoak hit a solo HR to straightaway center
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 2nd as Kevin Pillar went yard to left
  • Three batters later, Devon Travis doubled, scoring Russell Martin
  • A batter later, Billy McKinney hit a sac fly that scored Aledmys Diaz
  • The Orioles got on the board in the bottom of the 4th as Trey Mancini hit a solo HR to right-center
  • The Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Adam Jones hit a grand slam to right also scoring Austin Wynns, Craig Gentry and Mancini
  • Ryan Borucki pitching line: 4.2IP 8H 5R (all earned) 0BB 2K 84 pitches (58 for strikes) 
  • Devon Travis tied it up in the top of the 6th on a solo HR to left
  • Alex Cobb pitching line: 5.2IP 8H 5R (all earned) 2BB 4K 98 pitches (66 for strikes)
  • The Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Wynns singled home John Andreoli
  • Wynns scored on a wild pitch by Ryan Tepera two batters later 
  • The Orioles added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Ken Giles threw the ball away and nearly got teammate Devon Travis killed by Wynns, who had to leap over him advancing to second on the error. Jose Andreoli scored on the play
  • Three batters later, Wynns scored on a double error by Russell Martin and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a Ground ball hit by Mancini
  • The next batter Jones singled to left scoring Jonathan Villar
  • Final score: Orioles 10 Blue Jays 5
My Take

  • Key play in the bottom of the 1st: on an overturned call, Russell Martin threw out Jonathan Villar trying to steal third base. It was a double steal, so the Orioles had a runner on second with one out instead of runners on second and third with nobody out.
  • Ryan Borucki's night was ok except for one bad inning where he gave up a grand slam to Adam Jones. Of course the defense didn't help him out in the 2nd when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. committed an error. His only perfect inning was the 3rd. Hopefully Borucki bounces back next start which should take place in the TB series next week in Toronto
  • Danny Barnes and Ken Giles were both roughed up today. Barnes gave up two runs on 2 hits (one of those runs was the fault of Ryan Tepera who threw 2 wild pitches). I don't know what it is but Ken Giles is a completely different pitcher in a save situation vs. a non-save situation. Today was mop-up duty and hoping to keep the Blue Jays within 2 runs going into the 9th. Instead, Giles gave up 3 runs on three hits (only one was earned due to the Martin error).
  • Ugh the errors! Randal Grichuk, Ken Giles, Russell Martin and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. all committed an error today (three of them were fielding errors and Giles threw the ball away throwing to first base and nearly got Devon Travis killed
  • Randal Grichuk continues to swing a hot bat. He had 3 more hits today and had nine hits in this series.
  • Devon Travis also had three hits today and Kevin Pillar had two.
  • Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays travel to Miami to take on the Marlins, who are last in the NL East. Aaron Sanchez will be making his second start coming off the 60 day DL and he will be looking for a better outcome than 5 days ago when he walked four and gave up 6 runs on 10 hits. He'll be up against Marlins righty Dan Straily