Game #4 Toronto Blue Jays (2-2) @ Washington Nationals (1-3) - game recap

Teoscar Hernandez smacked two solo home runs to lift the Blue Jays to a 4-1 victory over the defending World Series champs, Washington Nationals 

After a disappointing loss yesterday that saw Randal Grichuk and Ken Giles leave the game with injuries, the Blue Jays travelled north to Washington to take on the defending World series champs. There is much uncertainty about the season continuing after 14 Miami Marlins players tested positive for COVID-19. By the way, Geovany Soto has previously tested positive as well. Trent Thornton got his first start of the season. In 2019, he was 4-9 in 32 starts with a 4.84ERA and 1.41WHIP. Derek Fisher was in RF in place of the injured Grichuk tonight and Joe Panik made his Blue Jays debut at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2 game losing streak? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 1st on a solo blast to right-center by Teoscar Hernandez
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 4th as Rowdy Tellez hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in right
• Three batters later, Danny Jansen smacked a solo blast to straightaway center
• The Nationals got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Kurt Suzuki doubled home ex-Blue Jay Eric Thames
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th as Hernandez lined a solo drive to right-center 
• Trent Thornton pitching line 4IP 8H 1R (earned) 2BB 3K 74 pitches (48 for strikes)
• Anibal Sanchez pitching line: 5IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 7K 88 pitches (56 for strikes)
• Anthony Bass pitched a scoreless 9th for hist 1st save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Nationals 1

My Take:

• Trent Thornton tossed 4 innings, allowing 1 run (earned) on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3. He pitched in and out of trouble today, including a bases loaded jam in the 2nd with 1 out.
• After blowing leads late Saturday and Sunday, the Blue Jays relievers were excellent tonight, allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 over the game's final 5 innings. Rafael Dolis, who looked shaky on the weekend, walked one batter with one out and quickly erased the base runner by inducing a double play.
• Cavan Biggio's 3 game hitting streak came to an end.
• Ryan Borucki saw his first regular season action after having his 2019 season wiped out by elbow issues. He gave up a hit and a walk in 1 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out 2 batters
• Up next, the Blue Jays continue their four game series in Washington (the latter two games, they will serve as the home team) in another dinner hour (or midafternoon for those of us on the west coast) start time. Tanner Roark gets the start in his Blue Jays debut against Nationals righty Austin Voth.