Friday, April 9, 2021

Game #7 LA Angels (5-2) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-4) - game recap

Vladimir  Guerrero Jr was 2-4 with a run scored and 3RBI in a losing effort as the Angels knocked off the Blue Jay 5-3 in 11 innings
 

After a decent road trip where the Blue Jays won the season opening series vs. the Yankees and dropped two of three to the Rangers, the Blue Jays opened the home portion of their schedule. Like last season, they will begin the home schedule in Dunedin (last year they played in Buffalo). Buffalo will be playing in NJ to accommodate the Blue Jays if they can't play in Toronto by end of May. Tonight, the Blue Jays opened  4-game series vs. the LA Angels. The last time these two teams met, the Angels won 6 of the 7 games in the season series. Ross Stripling faced a critical start with Robbie Ray nearing a return from an elbow contusion from a fall down a flight of stairs. Marcus Semien got the half day off, serving as the DH. Joe Panik got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it a win on the home opener? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Angels opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Anthony Rendon singling home Mike Trout 
  • The Blue Jays answered back in the bottom half of the inning as Teoscar Hernandez singled home Cavan Biggio
  • A batter later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center, also scoring Hernandez
  • The Angels got one back in the top of the 2nd as Jose Iglesias doubled scoring Justin Upton
  • Three batters later David Fletcher doubled home Iglesias 
  • Ross Stripling pitching line: 5IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 5K 70 pitches (46 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 6th as Cavan Biggio smacked a solo blast to right-center
  • Three batters later, Guerrero Jr. singled home Bo Bichette
  • Griffin Canning pitching line: 5.1IP 3H 4R (all earned) 1BB 7K 81 pitches (51 for strikes)
  • The Angels tied in the top of the 7th as Trout annihilated a moon shot to left-center and out of the ballpark
  • The Angels retook the lead in the top of the 11th as Fletcher singled home Iglesias and Upton
  • Raisel Iglesias pithed a perfect 11th, striking out the side for his 2nd save of the season
  • Final score: Angels 7 Blue Jays 5
My Take:
  • Ross Stripling pitched his way in and out of trouble over 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5. Lots of hard contact and multi-base hits. As mentioned in the preamble, this was an important start for the Blue Jays righty with Robbie Ray close to returning. It will likely be him or Tanner Rourke sent to the taxi squad when a roster spot needs opening
  • Marcus Semien continues to be hot and cold. He was 0-5 with a pair of strikeouts
  • Every starter, except Semien, Randal Grichuk and Danny Jansen had at least one hit
  • Up next, the series continues with the Angels will send lefty Andrew Heaney to the bump. The Blue Jays haven't named a starting pitcher.