Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Game #151 Toronto Blue Jays (60-91) @ Baltimore Orioles (49-102) - game recap

Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle, drove in 4 runs, scored three times and stole a pair of bases as the Blue Jays came from behind to defeat the Orioles 8-5

The Blue Jays kicked off their final road trip of the season in Baltimore. Both AL East teams are locked into 4th (Blue Jays) and 5th (Orioles) respectively in the division standings. The Blue Jays will need 4 wins in the final dozen games to avoid their 4th 100 loss season in franchise history. The Orioles would appear to be the easiest opponent left with a home and home set of 6 games left between the two squads. In between the series with the Orioles, the Blue Jays will be in NY to take on a Yankees team they just took 2 of 3 from last weekend in Toronto. The Blue Jays wrap up the season at home against the TB Rays, who they were swept by in 4 straight earlier this month in TB. Tonight, the Blue Jays opted to go with Ryan Tepera as the opener, with Trent Thornton expected to pitch the next several innings. Lourdes Gurriel was DH'ing for the 2nd time in 3 games as the Blue Jays ease him back to playing after missing more than a month with a quad strain. Justin Smoak started at 1B for the 3rd straight game after Rowdy Tellez was pulled from the game for not hustling to 1B last Friday.  Danny Jansen got the start behind the plate Could the Blue Jays reduce their magic number to avoid 100 losses to three wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:
  • The Orioles opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Trey Mancini smashed a 2-3 run opposite field shot to right center also scoring Dwight Smith Jr.
  • Ryan Tepera pitching line: 1IP 2H 2R (both earned) 1BB 0K 22 pitches (12 fir strikes) Trent Thornton pitched the next 5 innings allowing 1 run (earned) on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 3rd as Randal Grichuk crushed a solo bomb to the opposite field in right
  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 3rd as Cavan Biggio hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center also scoring Bo Bichette
  • Chandler Shepherd pitching line: 4IP 4H 3R (all earned) 1BB 4K 68 pitches (44 for strikes)
  • The Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Chance Sisco scored on a sac fly by Mancini
  • The Orioles tied the game in the bottom of the 7th as Mancini singled scoring Stevie Wilkerson
  • The Blue Jays tied in the top of the 8th as Biggio scored on a sac fly by Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 9th as Justin Smoak smoked a solo blast to right
  • Five batters later, Biggio tripled scoring Bichette and Danny Jansen. The hit capped off the cycle for Biggio, joining Kelly Gruber and Jeff Frye as the only Blue Jays to complete the feat
  • A batter later, Biggio scored on a fielding error by Orioles SS Jonathan Villar
  • The Orioles got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Villar smacked a solo blast to right-center
  • Final score: Blue Jays 8 Orioles 5
My Take:
  • The opener sort of backfired tonight as Ryan Tepera spotted the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. Trent Thornton had a solid outing with just the one run allowed on three hits and a walk. The Blue Jays will likely use this strategy several more times in the last 2 weeks.
  • Scary moment in the 9th when Orioles CF Mason Williams crashed into the wall attempting to catch the fly ball that led to Biggio's triple. He stayed down after the collission and appeared to be grabbing his left arm
  • As mentioned, Biggio had his best game in a Blue Jays uniform, hitting for the cycle, scoring 3 times, driving in 4 runs and stealing a pair of bases
  • By contrast, Danny Jansen was picked off first base and caught stealing.
  • Vlad also had a good night, going 2-4 and drawing a walk.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win as Clay Buchholz pitches against Orioles righty Dylan Bundy