Game #58 Baltimore Orioles (24-34) @ Toronto Blue Jays (31-27) - game recap

 

Travis Shaw as 3-4 with a run scored and 2 RBI as the Blue Jays doubled up on the Orioles 10-5

The Blue Jays opened up the final series of the season, which will serve as a time to rest certain players, final tune-ups for others and opportunities to see whether some of the injured players will be able to compete in the playoffs. The Blue Jays are playing a team (Baltimore Orioles) who are playing out the string and looking ahead to the off-season. Taijuan Walker got the start. Cavan Biggio got the complete day off with Joe Panik at the hot corner, Jonathan Villar at 2B and Teoscar Hernandez in RF. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got the full day off with Jonathan Davis in LF. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Travis Shaw at 1B. Could the Blue Jays make it three wins in a row? Here is tonight's game  recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Randal Grichuk smacked a solo blast to left-center
• Five batters later, Danny Jansen singled home Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• A batter later, Jonathan Davis scored on a sac fly by Jonathan Villar
• A batter later, A batter later, Bo Bichette singled scoring Joe Panik
• A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring Jansen and Bichette 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Davis singled home Guerrero Jr.
• Three batters later, Villar singled home Davis
• Jorge Lopez pitching line: 2IP 9H 8R (all earned) 1BB 1K 54 pitches (34 for strikes)
• Taijuan Walker pitching line: 3IP 0H 0R 0BB 4K 42 pitches (28 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th as Travis Shaw whacked a 2-run blast to right, also scoring Grichuk
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 5th as Roman Urias smashed a solo bomb to right-center
• Two batters later, Cedric Mullins smacked a solo blast to right
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 6th as Jose Iglesias to left
• Four batters later, Hanser Alberto doubled home Rio Ruiz
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 9th as Alberto scored on a groundout hit by Mullins
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 Orioles 5

My Take:

• Taijuan Walker looked solid in his final 3-inning tune-up before the playoffs. He threw 42 pitches, 28 for strikes, and struck out 4, walked none, did not allow a hit or run. Just one batter went to a full count.
• The biggest positive from tonight's game was the return of Nate Pearson, who's fastball was sizzling, topping out at 101.5mph. The question is how he feels tomorrow. Expect him to get one more relief appearance, likely Sunday
• Shun Yamaguchi had a bit of a rough outing, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits in 2/3 of an inning.
• The bats were still working. Everyone in the lineup had at least one hit and all but Teoscar Hernandez and Jonathan Villar scored at least one run. All but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Joe Panik drove in at least one run.
• Even more impressive, the Blue Jays hitters only struck out 3 times
• With the win, the Blue Jays are guaranteed to be over .500 for the first time since 2016, which, no surprise, is the last time the Blue Jays made the playoffs 
• Up next, The Blue Jays go for four in a row as they try to nab the 5th playoff spot (pending the Marlins sweeping the Yankees). Matt Shoemaker gets the start against Orioles lefty John Means