After a terrible loss due to poor pitching by both starter Alek Manoah and relievers Taylor Saucedo and RFel Dolis, the Blue Jays were looking to earn the season series split with a win today. Dolis was DFA'd (finally) after another dreadful performance. Alek Manoah was placed on the bereavement list. Tim Mayza is back after missing ten days with left elbow inflammation.Kevin Smith was added to the roster and active today. Jose Berros got the start with Reese McGuire behind the plate. Breyvic Valera was at the hot corner and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was in LF. Could the Blue Jays split the season series? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Nationals opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Juan Soto whacked a 3-run opposite-field blast to left; also scoring Victor Robles and Alcides Escobar
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 2nd as Teoscar Hernandez whacked a solo shot to left-center and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 3rd as Marcus Semien crushed a solo bomb to left
- Jose Berros pitching line: 5IP 5H 3R (2 earned) 3BB 3K 88 pitches (49 for strikes)
- The Nationals added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Ryan Zimmerman singled scoring Carter Kieboom
- Josiah Gray pitching line: 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 87 pitches (55 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 7th as Corey Dickerson smashed a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Randal Grichuk
- A batter later, Semien whacked his second solo blast into the Blue Jays bullpen in left-center
- The Nationals retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Josh Bell hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Escobar and Soto
- Two batters later, Kieboom whacked a solo blast to left
- Kyle Finnegan threw a scoreless 9th for his 4th save of the season
- Final score: Nationals 8 Blue Jays 5
My Take:
- Jose Berros had a rough start to his start, giving up a 3-run blast in the 1st inning. Berros dealth with base runners in all five innings, but managed to limit the dame to just three runs
- Much like yesterday, the Blue Jays clawed their way back from an early deficit, only to see the bullpen blow it late. It's been a trend all season, and management thought they had stopped the bleeding with their in-season and deadline moves, but the bulpen has blown games late two days in a row. This time, Brad Hand gave up a devastating 3-run shot immediately after the Blue Jays had taken the lead. He also gave up a solo shot to really put the game out of reach
- Offensively, the home run was king. The Blue Jays launched 4 home runs for five runs. They were 1-5 with runners in scoring position.
- Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez all had multi-hit days. Lourdes Gurriel Jr was the only other starter to get a hit (Corey Dickerson has a oinch hit 2-run shot and Breyvic Valera, Randal Grichuk and Reese McGuire all drew walks)
- In terms of the wild card race, The Yankees were winning in the top of the 9th and the A's were down in the top of the 7th and the Rays were down at the time of this positing. The Blue Jays need to string together wins.
- Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open up a 3-game set at home vs. the Tigers. In 2019, the Blue Jays won 4 of the 7 games in the season series last year and outscored the Tigers 34-16. Robbie Ray gets the start Friday against an unknown Tigers pitcher.
