Games #111 and 112 Toronto Blue Jays (61-51) @ LA Angels (57-57) - game recap (records will reflect what it was after the second game)

 

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. knocked in 2 runs in a 4-0 shutout win over the Angels in the second game of tonight's double header. The Angels took the 1st game by a score of 6-3

After a hugely successful return to Toronto homestand, in which the Blue Jays won 9 of 11, sweeping the Royals and taking 3 of 4 from the Indians and Red Sox, the Blue Jays hit the road, beginning with a 4 games in 3 night stretch against the Angels, in which the Blue Jays were the "home" team as a makeup for the rained out game April 11 in Dunedin. The Angels took two of three in that series. Steven Matz started the 1st and Ross Stripling started the 2nd game. Teoscar Hernandez DH'd in the 1st game and was in RF the 2nd game. George Springer was in the field the 1st game and DH'd the 2nd game. Corey Dickerson was in LF the 1st game and had the 2nd game off. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had the 1st game off and was in LF the 2nd game. Randal Grichuk was in RF the 1st game and CF the 2nd game.Breyvic Valera was at the hot corner the 1st game and Santiago Espinal was at the hot corner the 2nd game. Reese McGuire was behind the plate the 1st game and Alejandro Kirk caught the 2nd game. Could the Blue Jays sweep the double-header (or at least earn a split)? Here is tonight's game recap(s).

Game Highlights (1st game):

• The Angels opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Justin Upton singled scoring Phil Gosselin and Jose Iglesias 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Marcus Semien singled home George Springer
• The Angels added a pair of runs in the top of the 5th as Iglesias and Upton scored on a fielding error by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a grounder hit by Jo Adell
• Steven Matz pitching line: 4.2IP 6H 4R (2 earned) 3BB 5K 97 pitches (59 for strikes)
• Chris Rodriguez pitching line: 4IP 6H 1R (earned) 2BB 2K 68 pitches (42 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of of the inning as Teoscar Hernandez singled home Semien
• A batter later, Corey Dickerson tripled scoring Hernandez
• The Angels added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Gosselin singled scoring Juan Lagares and Shohei Ohtani
• Raisel Iglesias pitched a scoreless 7th for his 25th save of the season
• Final score: Angels 6 Blue Jays 3

My Take (1st game):

• Steven Matz battled through 4.2 innings, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5. He was visibly frustrated by the strike zone on a few pitches. Vlad didn't help things by flubbing a grounder that led to two unearned runs and the Blue Jays were never able to recover
• The bullpen allowed 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 1 over the final 2.1 innings
• Marcus Semien, Breyvic Valera and Teoscar Hernandez combined to go 7-10 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Corey Dickerson and Randal Grichuk had the other hits in the 1st game.
• Everyone but Vlad, who struck out 3 times, and Bo Bichette got on base at least once (George Springer drew a walk and Reese McGuire drew 2 walks)
• The Blue Jays were a dismal 1-8 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the second game of the double header. Ross Stripling gets the start against Angels lefty Juan Suarez

Game Highlights (2nd game):

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring George Springer 
• Three batters later, Teoscar Hernandez singled home Guerrero Jr.
• Ross Stripling pitching line: 2IP 1H 0R 1BB 0K 28 pitches (16 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Hernandez and Bo Bichette 
• Jose Suarez pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 4R (all earned) 1BB 2K 88 pitches (56 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Angels 0

My Take (2nd game):

• Tough one for Ross Stripling, who had to leave the game with an oblique strain. He did well to strand Shohei Ohtani at 3rd base after giving up a leadoff triple. His injury will likely mean that Steven Matz remains in the rotation
• The bullpen was excellent over the final five innings, except for Jordan Romano making things interesting, loading the bases on a pair of hits and a walk. Luckily he got Shohei Ohtani to strike out to end the game 
• Offensively, the Blue Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning, then got 2 clutch runs in the 6th inning. In between, the Blue Jays managed 2 base runners 
• Every Blue Jays batter except Marcus Semien (although he drew 2 walks) and Randal Grichuk had at least one hit
• The Blue Jays were 3-8 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, The A's won, but the Yankees and Red Sox lost. The Blue Jays gained a half game on the Yankees and are 2.5 games back of the A's, who hold the 2nd WC spot
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to take the series lead. Alek Manoah starts against Angels righty Dylan Bundy