After the bullpen blew yet another late lead, the Blue Jays were looking escape Seattle with a win. Last night's loss was costly as George Springer was injured jump[ing for a ball that turned into a triple. He was out of the lineup today and looks to have escaped severe injury. Steven Matz got start and Alejandro Kirk was behind the plate. Bo Bichette got the half day off as DH with Breyvic Valera at 2B and Marcus Semien at SS. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2 game losing streak? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Mariners opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a passed ball by Alejandro Kirk that scored JP Crawford
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 2nd as Teoscar Heernandez whacked a solo blast to left-center and into the Mariners bullpen
- Three batters later, Randal Grichuk hammered a 2-run bomb to left; also scoring Corey Dickerson
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd as Kirk doubld scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Dickerson
- Logan Gilbert pitching line: 4IP 8H 5R (all earned) 0BB 3K 88 pitches (60 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th on a throwing error by Cal Raleigh that scored Hernandez
- Steven Matz pitching line: 5IP 3H 1R (unearned) 3BB 4K 95 pitches (53 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th as Dickerson smashed a solo blast to right-center
- The Mariners got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Kyle Seagar bashed a two-run shot to right-center; also scoring Mitch Hanigar
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Marcus Semien smashed a solo bomb to left
- Final score: Blue Jays 8 Mariners 3
My Take:
- Steven Matz threw a solid 5 innings, allowing an unearned run (thanks to a throwing error by Alejandro Kirk) on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4. Matz has overall been one of the pleasant surprises of the year. He retired the final 4 batters he faced
- Adam Cimber had another rough outing, this time giving up a 2-run shot in the 8th. The rest of the bullpen allowed 2 hits and a walk over 3 innings while striking out 4. Tim Mayza may be back soon/ He began a rehab in Buffalo today
- Vlad is still trying to work his way out of a slump. He was 1-5 today and scored once. His fellow all-star Bo Bichette had a miserable day at the plate, striking out all five times he was at bat
- Every starter, except Bichette and Breyvic Valera had at least one hit.
- The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Red Sox and Yankees won, and the A's lost to the Rangers and the Rays lost to the Twins. This means the Blue Jays are 8 games back of the Rays for 1st in the AL East and 4.5 games back of Boston and Oakland, who are tied for the two spots in the AL wild card. The Blue Jays remain 2 games back of the Yankees The Bluie Jays are likely to lose ground tomorrow as they are off whereas the Yankees host the Angels, the Rays host the Orioles and the A's are at the White Sox.
- Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays start a mini 2-game series in Washington. Tuesday's pitching matchup features Alek Manoah against Nationals righty Erick Fedde
