Game #93 Toronto Blue Jays (35-58) @ New York Yankees (58-32) - game recap

Randal Grichuk drove in both Blue Jays runs in a 2-1 victory over the Yankees

After a tough shutout loss to the Yankees last night, the Blue Jays were right back at it facing old teammate JA Happ for the first time this season. The 36-year old southpaw is enjoying a solid season with a 7-4 record, but with an inflated 5.02ERA. The Blue Jays countered with their own 35+ lefty in Clayton Richard, who is 1-5 with a 6.23ERA in 9 starts. Richard has had some solid starts lately, going 6 innings in each of his last three starts, allowing 3 earned runs in each start. He was facing one of the better lineups in the league today. Veteran Luke Maile was his catcher today. Justin Smoak got the day off with Rowdy Tellez at first base. The struggling Teoscar Hernandez was also out of the lineup with Randal Grichuk in CF and Eric Sogard in RF. Vlad got a half day off, serving as the DH with Brandon Drury playing the hot corner today. Could the Blue Jays snap the five game losing streak versus the Yankees today? The Yankees came into this one having beaten Toronto five times in a row, sweeping the series in Toronto at the end of June, winning the last game of the 1st three game series at the beginning of June and taking the opener of this series to kick off the unofficial 2nd half last night. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Clayton Richard pitching line: 2IP 2H 0R 0BB 1K 30 pitches (19 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 6th as Randal Grichuk singled home Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• JA Happ pitching line: 5.1IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 5K 89 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Yankees got one back in the bottom of the 9th as Aaron Judge singled home Aaron Hicks
• Daniel Hudson got the final 4 outs for his 2nd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Yankees 1

My Take:

• The Blue Jays got bad news early when Clayton Richard was forced to leave his start after 2 innings and thirty pitches with a back injury. The 35-year old southpaw had three solid starts prior to the all-star break and was looking to build on that momentum as the first man up to start the second half. Ryan Borucki is potentially nearing a return to the rotation and Edwin Jackson is also in a rehab stint, so both could be options if the injury is long-term
• Speculation will be rampant after Ken Giles did not pitch in a save situation Saturday. One of three things could have happened. First, Giles might be the first veteran on the move. Second, Giles might have a minor ailment. Three, Giles is still a Blue Jay, but a deal is close.
• It was another rough day for the Blue Jays offence, that did just enough to win this game as a two run RBI single by Randal Grichuk barely held up.
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win as ace Marcus Stroman makes what could be his final start in a Blue Jays uniform. This start is kind of critical because Stroman missed his last start with a pec injury and potential trade partners will want to see Stroman pitch a good 5 innings minimum and ideally 6 or more. The Yankees will counter with righty and Stroman's all-star replacement Masahiro Tanaka