Game #139 Toronto Blue Jays (55-84) @ Atlanta Braves (85-54) - game recap

Josh Donaldson was 1-3 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI in a 6-3 win over the Blue Jays

After splitting two games with the Braves in Toronto a week ago, the Blue Jays opened a mini 2-game series in Atlanta that will mark the end of interleague play for the Blue Jays this season. The Blue Jays are an abysmal 3-15 in interleague play this season and were swept by the Diamondbacks, Rockies and Dodgers. Today's game pitted Canadian righty Mike Soroka against Blue Jays righty Jacob Waguespack. Fittingly, both Waguespack and Soroka were the losing pitchers in the 2-game mini series last week at the Roger's center. Vlad was given the complete day off with Brandon Drury at 3B and no DH due to playing in an NL ballpark and under NL rules. Justin Smoak got the start at 1B, Danny Jansen was behind the plate and Billy McKinney was in right field. Could the Blue Jays beat Canadian Mike Soroka for the second time in a week or would the Braves prevail over Jacob Waguespack for the second time in a week? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Braves opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Josh Donaldson smashed a 2-run blast to  dead center also scoring Ozzie Albies
• The Braves added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd that scored Albies and Donaldson
• The Blue Jays got a run back in the top of the 4th as Randal Grichuk smacked a solo shot to left
• The Blue Jays got a run back in the top of the 5th as Rowdy Tellez annihilated a solo bomb to right-center
• Three batters later, Bo Bichette scored on a sac fly by Randal Grichuk
• Jacob Waguespack pitching line: 4IP 1H 4R (2 earned) 5BB 4K 87 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Mike Soroka pitching line: 5IP 5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 6K 89 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Braves added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as pinch hitter Johan Camargo lined a 2-run drive over the wall and into the Blue Jays bullpen also scoring Donaldson
• Mark Melancon struck out the side in a perfect 9th for his 9th save of the season
• Final score: Braves 6 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Jacob Waguespack battled his way through 4 innings, giving up four runs on one hit and a costly fielding error by Brandon Drury while walking 5 and striking out 4. Wags command wasn't great and he didn't help himself by walking 5 batters, including walking the bases loaded in the 3rd with 1 out, thus putting more pressure on the defense to make a play. The walk to Ozzie Albies in the 1st allowed Josh Donaldson to come to bat and hit the 2-run HR that opened the scoring. It appeared Wags was overthrowing his pitches.
• Video replay went both for and against the Blue Jays. In the top of the 7th, the Braves challenged a line drive hit by Rafael Ortega that replay confirmed was just a bit foul. Ortega walked and later stole second base and replays confirmed that the tag by Cavan Biggio was just late (it was the correct call)
• Errors absolutely killed the Blue Jays. A fielding error by Drury in the 3rd directly led to 2 runs. In the 8th, Bo Bichette booted a ground ball hit by JD and the next batter, Johan Camargo hit a 2-run HR that put the game out of reach. Ryan Tepera also had a throwing error, but no runs scored because of it or after. I get it's getting late in the season, but attention to detail still matters. I wonder if Charlie Montoyo will bench anyone tomorrow to send a message
• Bo Bichette was the only Blue Jay to get on base multiple times, hitting a single leading off the game and drew a walk in the 5th
• Tepera lowered his ERA to 6.00 with a scoreless inning where he walked a batter and stuck out the side. Nice outing in his first MLB game in over 2 months
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the season series and this mini series as Mike Foltynewicz, who beat the Blue Jays a week ago goes for the Braves. The Blue Jays will have a bullpen day. Expect Clayton Richard to pitch for the first time in a month as he was activated from the 10-day IL today. Thomas Pannone and Sammy G might also pitch a couple of innings