Game #7 Washington Nationals (3-4) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-4) - game recap

Teoscar Hernandez was 3-4, including 2 solo HR, in a losing effort as the Nationals defeated the Blue Jays 6-4

After a tough 4-0 shutout loss in extra innings yesterday, the Blue Jays wrapped up the four-game set with the Nationals, looking for their 1st series win of the season. Prior to the game, it was announced that the weekend series against Philly is cancelled after 2 Phillies staff members tested positive for COVID-19. It's possible that the Blue Jays and Nationals could continue the series, now that both teams have three games to make up. Hyun-jin Ryu got his second start of the season. Bo Bichette returned to the lineup after missing a pair of games with a hamstring injury. Vlad was back at DH. There has to be major concerns that he is physically unable to handle being in the field more than one game at a time. Derek Fisher got the start in RF with Randal Grichuk still out with an SI joint injury. Could the Blue Jays take three of four from the defending World Series champs? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. legged out an infield single scoring Bo Bichette
• Umpire Joe West left the game after getting conked in the head by Bo Bichette on a follow-through on his swing
• The Nationals took the lead in the top of the 3rd as Kurt Suzuki doubled home Adam Eaton and Starlin Castro
• Derek Fisher left the game prior to the start of the 4th inning with left quad tightness
• The Nationals added a pair of runs in the top of the 4th as Michael-A. Taylor smashed a 2-run blast to dead center, also scoring Carter Kieboom
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a screaming liner that just cleared the wall in straightaway center 
• Erick Fedde pitching line: 3.1IP 6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 0K 57 pitches (31 for strikes)
• The Nationals added a run in the top of the 5th on a double by Asdrubal Cabrera that plated Castro
• Hyun-jin Ryu pitching line: 4.1IP 9H 5R (all earned) 1BB 5K 93 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 7th as Cavan Biggio whacked a solo shot to right
• The Nationals added a run in the top of the 8th on a sac fly by Trea Turner that scored Kiebloom
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Hernandez whacked a line drive over the wall in left-center
• Daniel Hudson pitched a scoreless 9th for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Nationals 6 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• The Blue Jays and Nationals began and ended this series with identical records, but I think the two teams will go away feeling vastly different about themselves. The Blue Jays began the week with 2 strong wins over the defending world series champs, only to drop the next one in a hard-fought game and their second loss in the new extra innings world (second time they have allowed multiple runs in the extra inning). Today, the Nationals took advantage of mistake pitches by Hyun-jin Ryu, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after 4 and a half innings. While the Blue Jays battled back, the Nationals hung on in the end.
• It proved to be a rough game for home plate umpire Joe West, who was conked on the head by the bat of Bo Bichette. West moved to second base for a couple of innings, but eventually left the game as a precaution
• The Blue Jays lost the services of Derek Fisher, who left the game with left quad tightness. No doubt with the unexpected long weekend off, the Blue Jays gave Fisher the rest of the game off with four extra days of rest to follow before the next game in Atlsnta.
• Vlad continues to struggle at the plate, going 0-4 and grounding out all 4 times. The Blue Jays really need to take advantage of these extra days off and get Vlad lots of practice at 1st base. When play resumes, he should be at 1B the majority of the week and not every other day. It's time to turn Vlad into a pro and get his fitness level up to par 
• Up next, after having their weekend series vs. the Phillies wiped out by COVID-19 concerns, the Blue Jays are expected to remain in Washington and train (with the Nationals permission) at Nationals ballpark before flying out to Atlanta for their next series that starts on Tuesday. It's possible the Nationals and Blue Jays could play each other once or twice this weekend as both teams have three games to make up. Nate Pearson could potentially make his second start as a Blue Jay on Monday as he would be on normal rest.