Friday, July 19, 2019

Game #99 Toronto Blue Jays (37-62) @ Detroit Tigers (29-64) - game recap

Marcus Stroman threw 7 shutout innings in a 12-1 rout over the Detroit Tigers

This one is a critical game for Marcus Stroman and the Blue Jays. For Stroman, it is likely to be his second to last or third to last start in a Blue Jays uniform. Assuming he pitches every 5 days, Stroman would have scheduled starts next Wednesday vs. Cleveland and Tuesday the 30th in Kansas City. The trade deadline is July 31st, so there's every possibility that Stroman could be moved at anytime between now and the 31st. With so many teams interested in the righty, the Blue Jays will likely opt to wait until close to the deadline to move him. Matthew Boyd was supposed to start tonight, but the Tigers opted to start righty Jordan Zimmerman (in-game trade?). Cavan Biggio got a half day off with Eric Sogard starting at second base. Randal Grichuk got a full day off with Billy McKinney in RF and Teoscar Hernandez in CF. Could the Blue Jays beat the Tigers? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:
  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Eric Sogard scored on a wild pitch by Jordan Zimmerman
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 2nd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored on a fielder's choice hit by Danny Jansen
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 4th as Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring Guerrero Jr.
  • A batter later, Eric Sogard singled home Cavan Biggio and Billy McKinney
  • A batter later, Freddy Galvis singled scoring Hernandez
  • Jordan Zimmerman pitching line: 3.2IP 7H 6R (all earned) 4BB 5K 96 pitches (59 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Hernandez smashed a solo bomb to left
  • Three batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Galvis
  • Two batters later, Guerrero Jr. singled home Gurriel Jr.
  • A batter later, Jansen singled scoring Justin Smoak
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Sogard scored on a ground out by Smoak
  • Marcus Stroman pitching line: 7IP 6H 0R 0BB 5K 101 pitches (63 for strikes)
  • The Tigers got one back in the bottom of the 8th as JaCoby Jones scored on a ground out by Gordon Beckham
  • Final Score: Blue Jays 12 Tigers 1
My Take:
  • Marcus Stroman was excellent today, tossing 7 shutout innings, walking none and striking out 5. He had all his pitches moving and kept the Tigers hitters off-balance with his customary style of altering the time of his delivery. He definitely helped the Blue Jays cause in getting a strong haul back in the inevitable trade that's sure to come in under two weeks.
  • The Blue Jays offence exploded for twelve runs on fifteen hits. The team batted around twice, in the 4th and 6th innings when they scored a combined 9 runs on 10 hits, 4 walks and a wild pitch
  • Every Blue Jays starter got on base at least once. Justin Smoak and Brandon Drury were the only ones without a hit
  • Eric Sogard (3-6, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI), Freddy Galvis (3-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3-5, 3 runs scored, 1RBI) Danny Jansen (3RBI), and Teoscar Hernandez (2-4, 2 runs scored, 2RBI) all had strong days at the plate.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays try to win one series after dropping 5 of the first 7 games of this road trip. Rookie Trent Thornton will be looking to bounce back after a rough outing Monday against Boston. The Tigers will counter with ex-Blue Jays lefty Daniel Norris.