After yesterday's game was wiped out by rain, the Rangers and Blue Jays played a double header today. It sounds like the league will eliminate doubleheaders being 7 innings, as well as runners on second base ri start extra innings. Lefty Nick Allgeyer was DFA'd. Jonathan Davis was optioned to AAA and was the 27th man for the double dip. Infielder Breyvic Valera was called up. Hyun-Jin Ryu started the first game and Steven Matz got the second game. Danny Jansen was behind the plate for the first game and Reese McGuire was the catcher in the second game. Teoscar Hernandez DH'd the 1st game and was in LF the second game. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was in LF the 1st game and DH'd the second game. Santiago Espinal was at the hot corner the first game and Cavan Biggio was at the hot corner the 2nd game. Could the Blue Jays sweep the souble header and make it four wins in a row? Here are today's game recaps.
Game Highlights (1st game):
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a ground out by Marcus Semien that scored Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
- A batter later, Bo Bichette singled scoring Santiago Espinal
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Danny Jansen whacked a solo blast to left
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th on a sac fly by Randal Grichuk that scored George Springer
- A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez scored on a ground out by Gurriel Jr.
- Kolby Allard pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 5R (all earned) 1BB 1K 88 pitches (59 for strikes)
- Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 1BB 4K 83 pitches (54 for strikes)
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Rangers 0
My Take (1st game):
- Hyun-Jin Ryu was excellent, throwing a three hit complete game shutout while walking one and striking out 4. His pitch count was good enough that he would have started the 8th and potentially had a chance at a 9-inning complete game.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays were opportunistic with three of the 4 runs scoring on outs (2 ground outs and a sac fly). Unlikely hero Danny Jansen smacked one out of the ball park.
- Every Blue Jays starter except Randal Grichuk (although he did have an RBI on a sac fly) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had at least one hit
- The Blue Jays were 2-7 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the second half of the double header. Steven Matz gets the start against Rangers righty Mike Foltynewicz
Game Highlights (2nd game):
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Teoscar Hernandez doubled scoring Bo Bichette
- A batter later, Randal Grichuk singled home George Springer]
- Two batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hammered a grand slam to left-center; also scoring Hernandez, Grichuk and Cavan Biggio
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. crushed a solo bomb to left-center
- A batter later, Springer smashed a solo blast to left
- Two batters later, Grichuk cracked a 2-run shot to left; also scoring Hernandez
- Mike Foltynewicz pitching line: 1.2IP 8H 10R (all earned) 2BB 0K 42 pitches (26 foir strikes)
- Steven Matz pitching line: 5IP 3H 0R 0BB 2K 68 pitches (44 for strikes)
- Final score: Blue Jays 10 Rangers 0
My Take (2nd game):
- Steven Matz was strong, throwing 5 shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out 2, He could have gone the distance too but Charlie Montoyo wanted to get Rafael Dolis and Taylor Saucedo some work. Those two combined to strike out 2 in the final 2 innings and Dolis allowed the only baserunner on a leadoff walk.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays exploded for 10 runs on 8 hits and a pair of walks in the first 2 innings, highlighted by a grand slam by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and back-to-back solo shots by Vlad and Springe in the 2nd inning and capped off by a 2-run shot by Grichuk.
- Every Blue Jays starter, except Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio (although he drew a walk) and Reese McGuire had at least one hit.
- The Blue Jays were 3-3 with runners in scoring position. they had just one more base runner after Randal Grichuk's 2-run shot in the 2nd inning with 2 out (a leadoff walk to Hernandez in the 5th inning)
- Up next, the Blue Jays open up the final series in Buffalo before they return to Toronto on July 30 vs. Kansas City. It will be the first series in Toronto since September27-29 vs. Tampa Bay, a series they would win. They will take on the Red Sox, who have won 5 of the 9 games in the season series so far, but the Blue Jays have outscored the Red Sox 57-36. Ross Stripling gets the start against Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta
