Game #44 Toronto Blue Jays (18-26) @ Chicago White Sox (20-23) - game recap

Billy McKinney was 4-5 with a run scored and an RBI as the Blue Jays routed the White Sox 10-2

After a heartbreaking late loss to the White Sox last night, the Blue Jays were looking to get bck on track against Ivan Nova. Aaron Sanchez was on the mound, five days after striking out a season-high 11 batters. Luke Maile was a late scratch, reason not given. Socrates Brito cleared waivers and was reporting to Buffalo. Could the Blue Jays even the weekend series and avoid losing the season series? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Justin Smoak smoked a solo bomb to right
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 2nd as Danny Jansen smacked  2-run blast to dead center also scoring Brandon Drury
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Freddy Galvis singled home Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• A batter later, Justin Smoak scored on a sac fly by Drury
• A batter later, Billy McKinney doubled scoring Randal Grichuk and Galvis
• The White Sox got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Tim Anderson scored on a fielder's choice hit by Leury Garcia
• A batter later Yoan Moncada singled home Yolmer Sanchez
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 4th as Vladimir Guerrero smashed a 2-run blast to dead center that barely cleared the wall; also scoring was Eric Sogard
• Ivan Nova pitching line: 3IP 8H 9R (8 earned) 4BB 1K 88 pitches (52 for strikes)
• Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 3IP 3H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 54 pitches (31 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th as Sogard doubled scoring McKinney
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 White Sox 2

My Take:

• Here we go again. Aaron Sachez left the game after throwing 54 pitches with 9 outs recorded. Yet again, he is plagued by blister problems. He left the game early back on April 21st with a cracked fingernail. Sanchez cruised through the first two innings with 6 straight outs, 4 strikeouts. In the third inning, he gave up two runs on three his. The 4th inning, it was obvious something was wrong when Sanchez hit James McCann with a pitch and then walked the next batter, missing badly on all four balls. Immediately after, manager Charlie Montoyo and trainer Nikki Huffman came out of the dugout and subsequently removed Sanchez from the game. If Sanchez misses significant time, it will leave the Blue Jays with three legit starters and almost 2 weeks before the next off-day.
• The bats came alive in a big way, lighting up White Sox starter Ivan Nova to the tune of 9 runs (8 earned) on 8 hits and 4 walks.Every Blue Jays starter had at least one hit and Billy McKinney was 4-5. Justin Smoak also got on base 4 times, drawing three walks.
• Quirky stat of the day: The Blue Jays had a numeric palindrome with their runs/inning (1-2-4-2-1)
• The bullpen did a really good job tonight, allowing just three hits and a walk over the final 6 innings
• Up, next, the Blue Jays have a bullpen day with Clay Buchholz on the shelf for the foreseeable future. Daniel Hudson started the last bullpen day. The White Sox will counter with righty Lucas Giolito, who threw 7 4 hit innings against the Blue Jays in his last start.