Game #33 Baltimore Orioles (15-19) @ Toronto Blue Jays (18-15) - game recap

 

Chase Anderson threw 5 strong innings in a losing effort as the Orioles came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 4-3 in 11 innings to avoid being swept

After a thrilling come from behind win yesterday, the Blue Jays wrapped up the homestand and the series against the Orioles. Today was trade deadline day and the Blue Jays were buyers for the first time in a few seasons. They had already acquired Daniel Vogelbach and Taijuan Walker in separate dea;s with the Mariners, and both have already made their Blue Jays debut. Today, the Blue Jays picked up lefty Robbie Ray from the Diamondbacks for fellow lefty Travis Bergen, who has been on the taxi squad this season and was on the active roster for a game or two, but never pitched. Currently, the Blue Jays have three starters on the IL (Nate Pearson, Trent Thornton and Matt Shoemaker) and none of the three are expected back in the near future. The Blue Jays also acquired IF/OF Jonathan Villar, who is expected to help fill the void with Bo Bichette still rehabbing the knee injury. Finally, the Blue Jays acquired righty Ross Stirling, who will provide depth in the bullpen. Expect some roster moves tomorrow to get the new players on the roster. Onto the game. Chase Anderson was o the bump, looking to go deep (past 5 innings) into the game to take pressure off a taxed bullpen. Vlad was back in the field after two days in a row as DH, Daniel Vogelbach got his first start in a Blue Jays uniform as DH (he had one pinch hit appearance on the weekend), Danny Jansen was back behind the plate after a day off yesterday, Joe Panik was at the hot corner to give Travis Shaw a day of rest and Santiago Espinal got the start at SS. Could the Blue Jays complete the sweep of the Orioles? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Orioles took the lead in the top of the 1st as Jose Iglesias singled scoring Anthony Santander 
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 5th on a throwing error by Hanser Alberto that scored Danny Jansen and Joe Panik
• Keegan Akin pitching line: 4.1IP 3H 2R (none earned) 2BB 6K 81 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Chase Anderson pitching line 5IP 3H 1R (earned) 0BB 8K 84 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Orioles tied it up in the top of the 6th as Santander doubled home Alberto
• The Orioles took the lead in the top of the 11th as Iglesias doubled home Santander
• Two batters later, Bryan Holaday doubled home Iglesias 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a single by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. that scored Randal Grichuk
• Final score: Orioles 4 Blue Jays 3 (11 innings)

My Take:

• Chase Anderson had his best start in a Blue Jays uniform, giving up 1 run on 3 hits while walking none and striking out 8. Anderson retired the final 12 batters he faced. If I were Charlie Montoyo, I would have let Anderson keep rolling to start the 6th, but what do I know, and maybe at the point Anderson was removed, word had come that the Blue Jays had acquired more pitching help.
• The bullpen worked it's way in and out of trouble over the final 6 innings. Wilmer Font gave up the tying run, costing Anderson the win. Ryan Borucki allowed hits to 2 of the 3 batters he faced.Thomas Hatch was perfect with a strikeout in his 1.2 innings. Raphael Dolis gave up a hit and walk, but kept the Orioles from scoring in his inning. AJ Cole pitched a clean 10th inning and Anthony Bass allowed the inherited runner that started on second base to score and the batter who drove in the inherited runner to plate as well. It will be interesting to see which reliever is moved to the taxi squad to make way for Ross Stirling.
• Daniel Vogelbach got on base once in four tries, before being lifted for a pinch runner in the 9th after drawing a walk
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had nearly half the hits for the Blue Jays (2 doubles and a single)
• Up next, the Blue Jays head to Miami, where they will face the Marlins, with whom they split the two game series in Buffalo a few weeks back. It will be a bullpen day for the Blue Jays tomorrow, with one of Anthony Kay or Jacob Waguespack likely getting the ball first. The Marlins will counter with righty Eliser Hernandez
• No doubt the mood in each dugout was very different today. The Orioles were expecting to say goodbye (potentially) to more teammates as Baltimore was reeling, having lost 12/15 and were looking to next season. It turned out that the Orioles traded away Miguel Castro in a last-minute deal. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays were flying high, riding a 4-game win streak and were looking forward to (potentially) meeting a few new teammates to bolster their roster for the wild card race and likely 1st playoff appearance since 2016. It turned out, the Blue Jays added two more pitchers and a utility player (see preamble above). The next time these teams meet, it will be the last series of the season for both squads. 
• The biggest surprises of the trade deadline was the inactivity of the Yankees and Rays, who are usually active at the trade deadline, and Miami and San Diego being buyers, both of whom are perennial bottom feeders in the MLB. Their success must bolster the confidence of the Orioles and Mariners, who are bad teams.
• Boston was also in selling mode today. The Red Sox are only 2 years removed from their last World Series win. This year, their pitching has been terrinle.
• Ex-Blue Jay Kevin Pillar was on the move, packing his bags for Colorado.
• Another ex-Blue Jays, David Phelps switched addresses from Philly to Milwaukee
• Finally, Ex-Blue Jays reliever Paul Quantrill's son Cal is heading to Cleveland in a deal made because Mike Clevinger fell out of favor with the Indians after a night of partying
• In total, 65 players and/or prospects switched teams in the past week leading up to today's deadline. What will be interesting to see is who the up to 19 players to be named later (two of the deals that involved players to be named later had the option of receiving cash) are. Technically the trades this year could only involve players on the 60 man roster, which includes the taxi squads. These deals will likely involve players/prospects not currently on the 60-man roster and will be finalized in the off-season