Game #81 Toronto Blue Jays (29-52) @ New York Yankees (52-28) - game recap

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 3-5 with 2 runs scored and 4RBI in a losing effort as the Yankees edged the Blue Jays 8-7

We are officially at the halfway point of the 2019 season. The Blue Jays came into this one well back of the 38-43 record they had after 31 games a year ago. They had a decent chance of avoiding a sweep with a hot Trent Thornton on the mound, who has thrown two quality starts in a row and should be riding a two game win streak if not for the bullpen blowing one of the games. The Blue Jays got a  bit of a break with one of the big bats, Gioncarlo Stanton, out of today's Yankees lineup after leaving last night's game a few innings after banging his knee into the ground diving into 3rd base in the 1st inning. Danny Jansen surprisingly got the start behind the plate after starting last night. Normally with a quick turnaround between games, managers would switch catchers. Pretty much the same lineup as last night, except Vlad DH'd, Brandon Drury was in the field at 3rd base and Eric Sogard got the day off with a lefty starting for the Yankees (James Paxton). Could the Blue Jays avoid the series sweep? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. smashed a three-run blast to left-center also scoring Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the second as Danny Jansen whacked a 2-run shot to left also scoring Brandon Drury
• The Yankees got one back in the bottom of the 2nd as Didi Gregorius smashed a solo bomb to dead center, extending the Yankees consecutive games with a HR streak to 29
• Five batters later, Aaron Judge singled scoring Aaron Hicks and Gleyber Torres
• The Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the 4th as DJ LeMahieu cracked a 2-run shot to right-center; also scoring Torres
• Trent Thornton pitching line: 3.1IP7H 5R (all earned) 2BB 4K 88 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead back in the top of the 5th as Gurriel Jr. went yard into the Yankees bullpen
• James Paxton pitching line: 4.1IP 8H 6R (all earned) 4BB 3K 91 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the 5th as Edwin Encarnacion scored on a sac fly by Hicks
• The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Luke Volt singled scoring Judge
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 9th on a single by Biggio that scored Billy McKinney
• The Yankees walked it off in the bottom half of the inning as Torres singled home Gregorius
• Final score: Yankees 8 Blue Jays 7

My Take:

• Rough outing for Trent Thornton, who was lit up for 5 runs on 7 hits and a pair of walks over 3.1 innings. The second inning was especially rough as the Yankees forced Thorton to throw 40+ pitches to get out of the inning. The 20-30 pitch mark normally gets the pitching coach out of the dugout. The 40 pitch mark usually has a reliever ramping things up pretty quickly. To be fair, he was facing the most potent lineup in baseball at the moment. Even without Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup, the Yankees are more than capable of beating up on a starter.
• I like how the Blue Jays battled in all three games this series. Today they were at the end of a lengthy 16 day stretch of genes and nobody would have blamed them if they mailed it in today. Instead the Blue Jays tied it after coughing up an early 5-0 lead and the Yankees taking over more or less after the 3rd inning.
• Cavan Biggio (3-4 with a run scored and an RBI), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (3-5, 2 runs scored and 4RBI) and Danny Jansen (3-3 with a run scored and 2RBI) all had strong games today
• Up next, after a much-needed off day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open a three game series at home against the KC Royals. The Blue Jays will have a bullpen day Friday with Derek Law most likely getting the ball first. The Royals will counter with lefty Danny Duffy.