Game #19 Toronto Blue Jays (8-11) @ Baltimore Orioles (12-10) - game recap

 

Cavan Biggio was 3-5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored in a 7-2 victory over the Orioles

After playing 13 innings over 2 games yesterday (and losing both), the Blue Jays hit the road to start a 3-game series in Baltimore. The Orioles are no longer the laughingstocks of the MLB. Baltimore came into this series 3 games above .500, 3 games back of the Yankees for 1st in the AL East, 0.5 games back of a WC spot. This is the same team that lost over 100 games in 2018 and 2019. There aren't too many names you'll recognize in their lineup, but if they keep playing the baseball they are, people will start to take notice. Hyun Jin Ryu got the start for the Blue Jays tonight, going for his second win of the season. Joe Panik got the start at SS in place of the injured Bo Bichette. Panik will probably platoon with Santiago Espinal until Bichette is ready to return. Vlad was at DH again (no surprise I guess, since he did play all 13 innings yesterday) and Rowdy Tellez got the start at first base. Could the Blue Jays snap their 2 game losing streak and beat the Orioles? Here is tonight's game recap

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Cavan Biggio singled scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• A batter later, Randal Grichuk hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Joe Panik and Biggio
• The Orioles got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Pedro Severino singled home Anthony Santander
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Grichuk singled scoring Danny Jansen
• Alex Cobb pitching line: 6.2IP 8H 5R (all earned) 1BB 4K 88 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Hyun Jin Ryu pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 0BB 3K 86 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Biggio cranked a 2-run shot to left-center; also scoring Panik
• The Orioles got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Renato Nunez singled home Cedric Mullins
• Final score: Blue Jays 7 Orioles 2

My Take:

• I hate pitching counts. Hyun Jin Ryu was pitching a solid game, throwing 6 innings, allowing just 4 hits, walking none and striking out 3. Do I think he should have been allowed to throw 130+ pitches likes they used to in the 80's or 90's? No. However, I thought starting pitchers were supposed to be able to handle 90-100 pitches in a game. I would have let Ryu start the 7th inning and had a reliever in the bullpen ready to go at the first sign of trouble. I get that this is a weird year and pitchers did not get a proper month long training camp. In a typical year, pitchers would be throwing 7 or 8 starts in spring training, and when the regular season started they could handle 90-100 pitches. This time, pitchers got maybe half the games and the Blue Jays had all but one exhibition game due to them screwing around trying to find a home. Playing intersquad games is not the same as playing other teams. Hopefully 2020 is a normal season.
• Just before the game ended, it was learned that Bo Bichette has a grade 1 LCL sprain. Timeline for return being established
• Cavan Biggio and Randal Grichuk combined to go 5-10 with 6 RBI and 3 runs scored
• 7 of the 9 starters got on base at least once. Only Vlad and Rowdy did not get on base
• Up next, the Blue Jays try for their 1st series win. Nate Pearson is on the bump, looking for his first career W. The Orioles will counter with lefty Wade LeBlanc