Friday, September 4, 2020

Games #37 and 38 Toronto Blue Jays (13-27) @ Boston Red Sox (21-17) - game recap (records reflect what they were after the second game today)

 

Randal Grichuk knocked in the winning run in the first game of today's twin bill as the Blue Jays and Red Sox split the double header with the Blue Jays edging the Red Sox 8-7 in the first game and the Red Sox edging the Blue Jays in the second game.

After a thrilling come from behind extra innings win, Blue Jays fans got a double header today.  The Blue Jays were the "home" team in the second game. With the new (hopefully temporary) rules, there were only 14 guaranteed innings as opposed to the traditional 18 with each game being minimum seven innings in length. Tanner Roark started the 1st game. Ross Stripling made his Blue Jays debut and started the 2nd game. Vlad was at DH the 1st game and off the second game entirely with Rowdy Tellez at 1B. Travis Shaw was back in the lineup at the hot corner after the day off yesterday. Joe Panik was at SS and Cavan Biggio was back at his regular 2B position. Teoscar Hernandez DH'd in the 2nd game after playing in RF the 1st game. Reese McGuire was behind the plate for the 2nd game after Danny Jansen got the start in the 1st game. Jonathan Villar was at SS in the second game and got the 1st game off. Could the Blue Jays sweep the double header and extend the win streak to 4 games? Here are today's game recaps

Game highlights (1st game):

  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Travis Shaw smashed a solo blast to dead center
  • Two batters later, Danny Jansen cranked a 2-run blast to dead center; also scoring Joe Panik
  • The Red Sox got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Yairo Munoz smacked a 2-run blast to left-center also scoring Kevin Plawecki 
  • Zack Godley pitching line: 3IP 5H 4R (all earned) 1BB 4K 51 pitches (31 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 4th on a double play ball hit by Teoscar Hernandez that scored Randal Grichuk
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th on a sac fly by Rowdy Tellez that scored Cavan Biggio
  • The Red Sox got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Jose Peraza doubled home Munoz
  • Two batters later, Peraza scored on a wild pitch by Tanner Roark 
  • Tanner Roark pitching line: 4.1IP 7H 4R (all earned) 1BB 6K 79 pitches (49 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Panik singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  • Three batters later, Grichuk singled home Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Shaw
  • The Red Sox got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Munoz doubled home Plawecki
  • A batter later, Michael Chavis singled scoring Jackie Bradley Jr.
  • A batter later, Munoz scored on a fielder's choice hit by Peraza
  • Anthony Bass pitched a perfect 7th for his 5th save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 8 Red Sox 7

My take (1st game):

  • This one was a back and forth contest that ended with the Blue Jays edging the Red Sox by one. Both teams scored in the 2nd, 5th, and 6th innings and the 1st, 4th, and 7th innings were scoreless. Essentially the difference in the ball game was the single run the Blue Jays produced in the 3rd and then holding Boston off the scoreboard in their half of the inning
  • It was an up/down day for Tanner Roark, who started the game striking out the 1st 4 batters he faced. Command was good, walking just the one batter. 5th inning was ugly with 2 runs on 3 hits, a walk and a wild pitch
  • Every Blue Jays starter, except Rowdy Tellez and Teoscar Hernandez scored at least one run. All but Hernandez got on base at least once.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for the double header sweep. Ross Stripling makes his Blue Jays debut against Red Sox righty Chris Mazza

Game Highlights (2nd game)

  • The Red Sox took the lead in the top of the 2nd on a ground-rule double by Tze-Wei Lin that scored Christian Vazquez
  • The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 3rd as Michael Chavis singled home Rafael Devers
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Rowdy Tellez smacked a solo blast to left and over the green monster 
  • The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 5th on a throwing error by Reese McGuire on a pick-off attempt that scored Yairo Munoz
  • Chris Mazza pitching line: 4IP 3H 1R (earned) 1BB 2K 67 pitches (41 for strikes)
  • Ross Stripling pitching line: 4.1IP 6H 3R (2 earned) 2BB 4K 81 pitches (51 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Jonathan Villar singled home Randal Grichuk
  • Matt Barnes pitched the 7th for his 4th save of the season.
  • Final score: Red Sox 3 Blue Jays 2

My take (2nd game)

  • Ross Stripling had an ok debut for the Blue Jays giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. His catcher Reese McGuire (who continues to have a horrible season at the plate - 0-3 on the day) didn't help his cause in the 5th, throwing the ball away with the bases juiced. Stripling got into jams in the 2nd and 3rd but limited the damage to a single run
  • The Blue Jays biggest threat came in the 6th when they had runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out, but could only muster 1 run
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win in another bullpen day. The Red Sox will counter with righty Ryan Weber