Game #108 Toronto Blue Jays (41-67) @ Kansas City Royals (40-68) - game recap

Cavan Biggio had a huge day, going 3-5 with 3 runs scored and 2RBI as the Blue Jays came from behind to defeat the Royals 7-3

After a tearful goodbye to Eric Sogard and Marcus Stroman, the Blue Jays embarked on a ten day three city road trip beginning in Kansas City tonight. Bo Bichette made his long awaited MLB debut, starting at shortstop. Thomas Pannone got the spot start in a rotation that is suddenly looking very thin with Trent Thornton on the IL, Matt Shoemaker done until 2020 and Clay Buchholz and Clayton Richard probably a minimum of a week away. Oh yeah, and Stroman's now a Met. Freddy Galvis was originally supposed to make his first start of the season at second base with Cavan Biggio getting the half day off, serving as the DH tonight, but with Blue Jay injury luck he was a late scratch. Instead Biggio started at 2B and Billy McKinney served as the DH Could the Blue Jays win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Royals opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Whit Merrifield singled home Cam Gallagher
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 5th as Teoscar Hernandez hammered a solo bomb to left-center
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 6th as Randal Grichuk whacked a 2-run blast to left also scoring Cavan Biggio
• The Royals tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Chester Cuthbert singled scoring Hunter Dozier and Jorge Soler
• Thomas Pannone pitching line: 6IP 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 4K 93 pitches (58 for strikes) 
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 8th as Biggio hammered a solo shot to right
• Brad Keller pitching line: 7IP 8H 4R (all earned) 0BB 5K 101 pitches (73 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Biggio singled home Hernandez
• A batter later, Grichuk singled scoring Danny Jansen
• Two batters later, Biggio scored on a ground out by Justin Smoak
• Final score: Blue Jays 7 Royals 3

My Take:

• Thomas Pannone pitched a solid 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits while walking one and striking out 4. A spot in the rotation is his for the taking. If he pitches like he did tonight, he'll be starting every 5 days
• Two potential trading chips were down and unavailable for tonight's game. Freddy Galvis was a late scratch with lower back stiffness. Ken Giles was also unavailable. This could definitely affect moves made in the final day and a half before the trade deadline. Both injuries could very well be minor and the Blue Jays exercising an abundance of precaution. Giles' injury is more concerning because this is the third time he's missed games with injury (he missed ten days in June with elbow inflammation, the first few game following the all-star break after a massage mishap and now he's injured again).
• The bats came alive late once again, scoring 4 times in the final two innings, led by Cavan Biggio, who hit a solo HR in the 8th, and drove in a run and later scored in the 9th.Randal Grichuk also had a strong game with a 3-5 effort, including a 2-run HR in the 6th to give the Blue Jays their first lead of the game.
• Bo Bichette recorded his first big league hit in his first big league AB. He was also solid in the field, recording 4 outs, including a slick double play in the 6th.
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win in what will be a bullpen day. This was supposed to be Stroman's start, but instead he'll be watching his new teammate Noah Syndergaard work his magic. Sean Reid-Foley will get a spot start in Stroman's place. The Royals will go with lefty Mike Montgomery, who they acquired in a trade with the Cubs a couple of weeks ago.