After the bullpen laid another egg, blowing a strong start from rookie Alek Manoah, the Blue Jays were right back at it, trying to take the lead in the weekend series. Ace Hyun-Jin Ryu got the start. Santiago Espinal got the start at the hot corner, Teoscar Hernandez was in RF and Randal Grichuk served as DH. Could the Blue Jays take control of this weekend series with a win? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Bo Bichette doubled home Marcus Semien
- A batter later, Vladimir Guerero Jr. whacked a 2-run blast to left-center' also scoring Bichette
- A batter after that, Teoscar Hernandez smashed a solo bomb to left
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as George Springer singled home Bichette
- A batter later, Randal Grichuk hammered a three-run bomb to left; also scoring Guerrero Jr. and Springer
- Keegan Akin pitching line: 4.1IP 7H 6R (all earned) 1BB 3K 82 pitches (53 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th as Hernandez singled scoring Santiago Espinaal and Semien
- A batter later, Springer singled home Guerrero Jr.
- A batter after that, Grichuk singled scoring Hernandez
- The Orioles got a pair back in the top of the 7th as Pedro Severino singled scored Austin Hays and Steve Wilkerson
- Two batters later, Cedric Mullins doubled scoring Maikel Franco and Severino
- Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching line: 6.2IP 7H 4R (all earned) 2BB 3K 91 pitches (59 for strikes)
- Final score: Blue Jays 12 Orioles 4
My Take:
- Hyun-Jin Ryu was strong through six innings, allowing just 2 hits and a walk. He was cruising, having retired 15 in a row before Anthony Santander got a one-out double in the 7th. Ryu wasn't able to get out of the inning, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk. Ryu had three innings where he threw less than 10 pitches.
- The bullpen redeemed itself after coughing up 4 runs in the 8th to blow a four run lead and having Trent Thornton walk in the winning run, Jacob Barnes and Joel Payamps got seven straight outs, each striking out a batter.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays had three big innings where they scored four runs and that was more than enough on this day. Vlad hit his league-leading 26th HR and league-leading 64th RBI and added 4 more total bases for 165 on the season - also tops in the MLB. He also reached base 3 more times to make it 143 for the season - yet another category where Vlad leads. Bo Bichette scored his league-leading 64th run of the season.
- George Springer also appeasrs to be heating up, driving in 2 runs, scoring once and getting 2 hits today
- Every Blue Jays hitter except Reese McGuire and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had at least one hit.
- The Blue Jays were 7-11 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win. Ross Stripling gets the start against Orioles righty Jorge Lopez
