Friday, September 13, 2019

Game #148 New York Yankees (97-52) @ Toronto Blue Jays (58-90) - game recap

Bo Bichette hit a walk-off HR to start the 12th as the Blue Jays came from behind to beat the Yankees 6-5

After taking 2 of 3 from Boston, the Blue Jays face a stiffer challenge with the NY Yankees in town, and still trying to lock down first spot in the AL and home field advantage until at least the World Series. Tonight, Anthony Kay made his second career start and first at the Roger's center after firing 5.2 solid innings five days ago. Blue Jays killer Masahiro Tanaka is on the bump for the Yankees. Tanaka was 13-5 with a 2.69ERA in 20 career starts against the Blue Jays before tonight's tilt. Bo Bichette got the half day off, serving as the DH, with Richard Urena taking his spot at SS. Rowdy Tellez got the start at 1B and Reese McGuire was behind the plate.The outfield was Teo between Billy McKinney and Grich. Could the Blue Jays steal a win vs. the Yankees? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:
  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Randal Grichuk smacked a solo shot to left
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Reese McGuire doubled home Rowdy Tellez
  • A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring McGuire
  • The Yankees got one back in the top of the 5th as Clint Frazier doubled home Brett Gardner
  • A batter later, Austin Romine singled home Clint Frazier
  • Three batters later, Romine scored on a fielder's choice hit by Luke Volt
  • A batter later, Gio Urshela singled scoring Volt and Gleyber Torres
  • Anthony Kay pitching line: 4.1IP 7H 5R (all earned) 1BB 2K 96 pitches (62 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Cavan Biggio singled home Bo Bichette
  • Masahiro Tanaka pitching line: 5IP 8H 4R (all earned) 0BB 6K 88 pitches (64 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 7th as Richard Urena scored on a balk by Adam Ottavino
  • The Blue Jays walked it off in the bottom of the 12th as Bichette hit a moon-shot to left-center
  • Final score: Blue Jays 6 Yankees 5 (12 innings)
My Take:
  • Anthony Kay battled through 4.1 innings. It was really just one inning where he really ran into trouble. In that fateful inning, Kay was lit up for 5 runs on 5 hits (the 5th hit was given up by reliever Jason Adam) and a fielder's choice. He had 1-2-3 innings in the 2nd and 4th. The Yankees have one of the best offences in the game right now.
  • Tim Mayza suffered, judging by his initial reaction, a significant injury to his pitching elbow. I'll get into it more in my weekly random thoughts post, but if the injury is as bad as Mayza's reaction seemed to indicate, he could miss not only the remainder of this year, but all of next year as well. It appeared that he grabbed the outside of his pitching elbow. He faced just the one batter (an 8-pitch walk to Didi Gregorius)
  • Every Blue Jays starter but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had at least one hit today
  • Bo Bichette (3-5, 2 runs scored, triple short of cycle), Cavan Biggio (2-5, RBI), Teoscar Hernandez (2-5) and Richard Urena (2-5, run scored, all had strong days at the plate
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win as Jacob Waguepack pitches against Canadian lefty James Paxton