Saturday, September 12, 2020

Game # 45 New York Mets (21-25) @ Toronto Blue Jays (25-20) - game recap

 

Robbie Ray threw 5 solid innings as the Blue Jays edged the Mets 3-2

After a total beat-down to the Mets last night, the Blue Jays were looking to right the ship and even the weekend series at 1. The Blue Jays welcomed back Bo Bichette, after he missed a month with a knee sprain while stretching out before an at-bat. Robbie Ray made his second start since the Aug. 31st trade. It's been clear that he'll be Pete Walker's little pet project for the remainder of the season. Alejandro Kirk made his MLB debut. In a normal season, he would have been playing in the minors, but there is no minor league season this year, so why not? Cavan Biggio got the start in RF with Joe Panik at 2B. Jonathan Villar was at DH tonight. Could the Blue Jays rebound from last night's rout? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Mets opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Jake Marisnick doubled home Michael Conforto
  • The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as Randal Grichuk singled scorIng Bo Bichette 
  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 5th on a sac fly by Travis Shaw that scored Alejandro Kirk
  • Robbie Ray pitching line: 5IP 4H 1R (earned) 2BB 5K 90 pitches (55 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Jonathan Villar singled home Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  • Seth Lugo pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 3R (all earned) 1BB 5K 91 pitches (60 for strikes)
  • The Mets got one back in the top of the 7th on a fielder's choice hit by JD Davis that scored Wilson Ramos
  • Final score: Blue Jays 3 Mets 2

My Take:

  • Robbie Ray had his best outing in a Blue Jays uniform, firing 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. He had better command of his pitches today and was much more economical, allowing him to throw deeper into the ball game. You could see the work Pete Walker has done with him and the impact it has had.
  • Bo Bichette was 1-4 in his return and scored the Blue Jays first run of the ball game
  • Alejandro Kirk was 1-3 with a run scored and drew a walk in his big league debut. He had a bit of a rough 9th defensively, having a couple of balls get away from him, forcing Rafael Dolis to throw an extra pitch
  • The game ended on a pickoff by Dolis. The Blue Jays got lucky in the 8th when Jonathan Villar was nearly picked off. He stole second base on the next pitch
  • Weird play of the game: The Mets won a challenge in the 4th, preventing Bichette from scoring from 1st base when the play was ruled a ground-rule double. Grichuk drove him home 5 pitches later.
  • More base-running blunders: Travis Shaw was thrown out, trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on the play
  • Up next, the rubber match of the series in a battle of the southpaws. The Blue Jays will send ace Hyun-Jin Ryu to the mound against Mets lefty David Peterson.