After splitting yesterday's double header, with a costly injury to Lourdes Gurriel Jr, who was drilled in the elbow by a 95MPH fastball in the final inning of the second game of the double header. Tomorrow is the trade deadline. The Blue Jays made a move today, acquiring lefty reliever Brad Hand from the Nationals for catcher Riley Adams. Hand is 5-5 with a 3.59ERA with 25 saves in 41 appearances this season. Adams made his big league debut when both Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk were on the IL. He hit .107 in 28AB. In the field, Adams has 1 error, 4 wild pitches against and all 8 stealing attempts against him were successful. Hyun-Jin Ryu got the start. Santiago Espinal was at the hot corner. Vlad was back in the field after dh'ing the 2nd game of yesterday's double header. Gurriel Jr. was completely out of the lineup and George Springer got the half day off as DH so the outfield for today was Cavan Biggio in LF, Randal Grichuk in CF and Teoscar Hernandez in RF. Could the Blue Jays end the final game before the most anticipated home game ever? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Teoscar Hernandez doubled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien
- Two batters later, Cavan Biggio wingled home Hernandez
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 2nd as George Springer singled scoring Reese McGuire.
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 4th on a bases loaded walk to Marcus Semien that forced in Santiago Espinal
- A batter later, Springer scored on a fielder's choice hit by Bichette
- Eduardo Rodriguez pitching line: 3.1IP 7H 6R (all earned) 4BB 8K 92 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 5th as Guerrero Jr. hammered a 3-run bomb over the green monster in left; also scoring Springer Daland Espinal
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Randal Grichuk singled home Bichette
- Two batter later, Espinal singled scoring Hernandez
- A bater later, Grichuk scored on a ground-rule double by McGuire
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Hernandez singled scoring Semien
- Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 0BB 5K 87 pitches (62 for strikes)
- The Red Sox broke the shutout bid in the bottom half of the inning as Bobby Dalbec singled scoring Christian Vazquez
- Final score: Blue Jays 13 Red Sox 1
My Take:
- Hyun-Jin Ryu was excellent, throwing 6 shutout innings, allowing 2 hits while walking none and striking out 5. He probably could have pitched an extra inning, but the bullpen needed work.
- Speaking of the bullpen, they certainly created some unnecessarily nervous moments for Ryu and manager Montoyo. First Taylor Saucedo ruined the shutout bid, giving up a run on 2 hits in his inning of work. Then Rafael Dolis walked a batter and had Bo Bichette flub a couple of grounders, barely managing a force out to avoid a bases losded situation with one out. Kirby Snead allowed a pair odf hits, but struck out the side to end the game.
- Offensively, it was a teamy effort with every Blue Jays starter getting at least one hit and driving in at least one batter
- The Blue Jays were 9-20 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the much-anticipated return to the Rogers Center, after more than a year and a half since their last game in Toronto, the Blue Jays FINALLY return to play baseball in Toronto and takr back home fiield advantage. Friday's pitching matchup will be righty Ross Stripling against Royals lefty Daniel Lynch
