Game #128 Toronto Blue Jays (52-76) @ LA Dodgers (83-44) - game recap

Cody Bellinger was 2-3 with 2 runs scored and 3RBI in a 16-3 rout over the Blue Jays 

The Blue Jays kicked off their final west coast swing and final interleague series of the season tonight against one of the favorites for the World Series this year in the LA Dodgers. Tonight, Blue Jays batters faced lefty Clayton Kerhaw, who remains one of the premier pitchers in the MLB. He brings a 12-2 record with a solid 2.63ERA into tonight's game. The Blue Jays have opted to go with lefty Buddy Boshers as an "opener" with righty Sean Reid-Foley pitching the bulk of the innings tonight. Vlad was in the lineup after sitting out the finale of the homestand Sunday. Cavan Biggio got the day off with Brandon Drury getting the start at 2nd base. Could the Blue Jays beat one of the best pitchers in the game? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Bo Bichette led off the game with a solo blast to left
• Buddy Boshers pitching line: 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K 15 pitches (9 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Derek Fisher smacked a solo blast to right-center
• The Dodgers got one back in the bottom of the 3rd as AJ Pollock line a solo shot just over the wall in right
• Two batter later, Will Smith smashed a 2-run bomb to left-center also scoring Max Muncy
• Three batters later, Cory Seagar doubled scoring Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor
• The Dodgers added three runs in the bottom of the 4th ss Bellinger doubled scoring Clayton Kershaw, Muncy and Pollock. The Blue Jays got lucky as Bellinger was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Bichette hammered his second solo bomb of the night to left
• The Dodgers added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Muncy smashed a solo blast to right-center
• Three batters later, Taylor clobbered a 3-run bomb to left-center also scoring Smith and Bellinger
• Clayton Kershaw pitching line: 6IP 6H 3R (all earned) 3BB 6K 89 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Dodgers added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Taylor singled scoring Matt Beatty
• Three batters later, Joc Pederson hammered a 3-run bomb also scoring Taylor and Enrique Hernandez
• Richard Urena pitched the bottom of the 8th, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and walked one
• Kershaw surpassed fellow ex-Dodgers lefty Sandy Koufax, who threw a perfect game September 9, 1965, in career victories. Kershaw is now tied for 205th on the all-time list (along with Bob Buhl, John Burkett, Howie Ehmke, Eddie Lopat and Paul Splittorff) with 166 career wins). He is also 7th on the active list behind Max Scherzer, Felix Hernandez, Jon Lester, Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia. Cy Young is first all-time in career wins with 511 wins 
• Final score: Dodgers 16 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Buddy Boshers pitched a solid inning to start the game, giving up a walk and striking out one. The plan was to have SRF pitch the next couple of innings.. However, that plan went out the window in the 3rd when SRF got the first 2 outs of the inning and then allowed 5 runs on 4 hits and a pair of walks. Did SRF get rattled after a close pitch went for ball four that could have got him out of the inning with just one run allowed? This is his chance to audition for a spot on the team, bullpen or rotation. So far, he has not taken advantage of the opportunity.
• This was not the vintage Clayton Kershaw the Blue Jays faced. The Dodgers lefty gave up 3 runs (two off the bat of Bo Bichette) on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 6, He seemed to get the benefit of the doubt on a few close pitches, but I guess that's what happens when you consistently throw strikes. I do wish the umpires would call a pitch in the exact location the same way every time.
• Russell Martin came into the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 7th and played the final 2 innings at 3rd base. He and Danny Jansen shared some words during Martin's AB  in the 9th. The two former teammates are certainly in entirely different situations. Jansen is the Blue Jays starting catcher, whereas Martin is the Dodgers backup catcher. Martin has also pitched an inning. Their two teams are also heading in opposite directions. The Blue Jays are going to lose between 90-100 games and the Dodgers are all but certainly going to win 100+ games and have home field advantage at least until the World Series
• Bo Bichette was one of the few bright spot on a bad night all around for the Blue Jays, hitting 2 home runs off Clayton Kershaw
• Vlad also had a good night at the plate (except for getting caught too far off base) going 2-2 and drawing 2 walks
• Brandon Drury, Justin Smoak and Derek Fisher (who also homered off Kershaw) had the other three Blue Jays hits. Danny Jansen and Teoscar Hernandez both drew walks
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series against another tough pitcher in Walker Buehler. The Blue Jays will have another bullpen day with Wilmer Font likely getting the ball first, followed by Sammy G.