Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 2-4 in a losing effort as the Braves walked off the Blue Jays 4-3
After edging the Braves last night, the Blue Jays were back at it a day later, looking for their first series win of the season.Rowdy Tellez saw his first action of the series, playing first base with Vlad getting the half day off, serving as the DH today..Randal Grichuk was back in CF after serving as DH last night. Travis Shaw was back in the lineup and playing the hot corner after missing a couple of weeks dealing with a family matter. Joe Panik got the start at second base with Cavan Biggio occupying RF today. Reese McGuire got the start behind the plate. Could the Blue Jays make it two in a row and notch the series win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Braves opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Freddie Freeman smashed a 2-run blast to right-center; also scoring Dansby Swanson
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 4th as Bo Bichette lined a screamer to left-center
- The Braves added a run in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Adam Duvall that scored Marcell Ozuna
- Nate Pearson pitching line: 5IP 2H 3R (all earned) 3BB 5K 79 pitches (48 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 7th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. scored on a groundout by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Two batters later, Teoscar Hernandez singled home Rowdy Tellez
- Touki Toussaint pitching line: 6.2IP 4H 3R (all earned) 0BB 9K 83 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Braves won it in the bottom of the 9th as Nick Markakis hammered the first pitch he saw to right
- Final score: Braves 4 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Nate Pearson pretty much made 1 mistake today, the 2-run HR he gave up in the 1st to Freddie Freeman. His command was just ok (he walked three batters, including one on four pitches). It would have been nice to see him at least start the 6th inning. Just one Blue Jays starter (Matt Shoemaker in the second game of the season) pitched into the 6th inning. The Blue Jays have used at least three relievers every game this season. I know it's a short season, but still, you have to let the starters go a bit deeper into the ball game and maybe gain some confidence. I'm a baseball purist and I can't stand the idea of pitching counts in general. The starting pitchers should be capable of throwing at least 90+ pitches in a start.
- I thought the best inning the Blue Jays had offensively today was the 7th when they manufactured a pair of runs and neither came off the long ball. While it's fun to see a player hammer the ball into outer space, or right out of the ballpark if you are playing at Fenway, unless you're the NY Yankees, you won't win many ball games just hitting HR. Pitchers will adapt and throw more pitches lower in the strike zone
- The Blue Jays were too impatient at the plate, striking out 10 times today, including 9 to starter Touki Toussant. Even worse, none of the Blue Jays drew a walk.
- What a bizarre day for Jacob Waguespack, who started off on the big league roster, was sent to the taxi squad as teams were required to trim rosters by 2 today, was put back on the MLB roster a few hours later when Trent Thornton was put on the IL with an inflamed pitching elbow, warmed up in the bullpen only to be told he couldn't pitch today because he was sent to the taxi squad and I guess you need 24 hours between roster moves?
- Up next, the Blue Jays travel to Boston in the last stop of this ridiculously long road trip to start the season. Technically the Blue Jays were considered the home team for 2 games last week in Washington, but for all intents and purposes they played in a road ball park for 3 series and saw a 4th series in Philadelphia cancelled after the Miami Marlins played the Phillies the Sunday of opening weekend DESPITE knowing that four players had tested positive for COVID-19 (eventually became 20 and messed up the schedules for 6 teams). Tanner Roark makes his second start in a Blue Jays uniform, while the Red Sox will counter with righty Ryan Weber.
