Thursday, September 19, 2019

Game #153 Toronto Blue Jays (62-91) @ Baltimore Orioles (49-102) - game recap

Cavan Biggio was 2-5 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI as the Blue Jays came from behind to double up the Orioles 8-4 and complete the sweep

After an epic comeback last night, the Blue Jays were looking to close within one win of avoiding 100 losses. Wilmer Font will serve as the opener with lefty Anthony Kay to follow. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made his return to the field for the first time since he was injured 6 weeks ago. Vlad was in the lineup after leaving the game in the 9th on an awkward slide.Justin Smoak got the half day off serving as the DH,with Rowdy Tellez at 1B. Reese McGuire remained behind the plate. Derek Fisher started in RF, where he was playing when he took a ball off the face in his first game in a Blue Jays uniform. Could the Blue Jays make it 4 wins in a row? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:
  • Wilmer Font pitching line: 2IP 1H 0R 1BB 2K 26 pitches (18 for strikes); Anthony Kay pitched the next 4 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3
  • The Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Trey Mancini doubled home Austin Wynnes
  • The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 4th as Cavan Biggio hammered a solo bomb to dead center and into the bullpens
  • A batter later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. smashed his 20th dinger of the year deep to left-center
  • The Orioles tied the game in the bottom of the 5th on a fielder's choice by Anthony Santander that scored Hanser Alberto
  • The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 7th on a bases loaded walk by Derek Fisher that forced in Randal Grichuk
  • Two batters latter, Biggio singled scoring Reese McGuire and Rowdy Tellez
  • A batter later, Gurriel jr. singled home Fisher
  • A batter later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled home Gurriel Jr. and Biggio
  • The Orioles got one back in the bottom of the 9th as Austin Hays clobbered a solo bomb to dead center 
  • Final score: Blue Jays 8 Orioles 4
My Take:
  • The Blue Jays use of the opener then medium-long man worked perfectly tonight. Wilmer Font limited the Orioles to a hit and a walk over the game's first two innings. Anthony Kay then came in and threw the next 4 innings, earning his first big league win when the Blue Jays beat up Orioles pitching for the second night in a row. Kay allowed 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. He's looked solid in 2 of his first 3 outings. He'll get one more game before the season ends, probably against the Orioles in Toronto next week.
  • For the second day in a row, the Blue Jays put up a 6-spot in a single inning. The Orioles relievers were not throwing very many strikes coming out of the bullpen. When your a reliever, you better be ready to throw strikes. Lefty Tanner Scott threw just one strike in 8 pitches. His replacement, Dillon Tate, walked the first batter he faced, forcing in a run.
  • A day after hitting for the cycle, Cavan Biggio went 2-5 with 2 runs scored, including a solo HR, and 3RBI.)
  • Scary moment for Bo Bichette, who had a fastball hit him in the helmet. He also had a foul ball later deflect off his face.
  • Justin Smoak and Bichette were the only Blue Jays not to get a hit today
  • Up next, the Blue Jays face a decidedly stiffer test against the Yankees, who they took 2 of 3 from a week ago in Toronto. The Yankees clinched the AL East while the Blue Jays were playing tonight, so they may opt to rest most of their starters tomorrow. Domingo German probably won't be pitching for a while as he's on administrative leave for domestic violence. He allegedly slapped his wife in front of a high-ranking MLB official. Jacob Waguespack gets the start in the series opener against ex-Blue Jays lefty JA Happ