After dropping a game to the Orioles, the Blue Jays were looking to start the final full month of the season with a win. Anthony Castro was resinstated from the IL and assigned to AAA. Righties Bryan Baker and Nate Pesrson were both added to the roster and active. Steven Matz got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Teo was in CF with Lourdes in LF and Corey Dickerson in RF. Geotge Springer was back in the lineup as DH after appearing to reinjure his leg. Breyvic Valera was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays start September with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom on the 1st as Marcus Semien cranked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- The Orioles tied the game in the top of the 1st on a bases loaded walk to Cedric Mullins that forced in Ramon Urias
- A batter later, Ryan Mountcastle walked forrcing in Anthony Santander
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 4th as Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring Bo Bichette
- Three batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Hernandez and Corey Dickerson
- Matt Harvey pitching line: 4IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 0K 71 pitches (44 for strikes)
- Steven Matz pitching line: 5IP 5H 2R (both earned) 4BB 5K 100 pitches (53 for strikes)
- The Orioles got one back in the top of the 6th as Austin Wynns singled scoring Austin Mateo
- The Orioles tied the game in the top of the 7th as Trey Mancini doubled scoring Mountcastle
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th on a sac fly by Randal Grichuk that scored Bichette
My Take:
- Steven Matz battled in and out of trouble all night. He had an especially rough 2nd inning, issuing two straight bases loaded walks. Control was not Maz's asset tonight. He threw a wild pitch in the 1st inning but escaped the inning. The one good thing about having abad start tonight is there were a couple of fresh arms in the bullpen with rosters expanding.
- The bullpen cost Steven Matz a win, but mr. Automatic Jordan Romano threw a perfect 9th to preserve the much-needed win
- The offence was clutch in the 4th, knocking in three runs. Every Blue Jays starter had at least one hit
- The Blue Jays were 3-11 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Mariners, Yankees and Red Sox all won, while the A's lost. The Blue Jays are off tomorrow while the Red Sox and A's both play so they could drop a half game to those teams if they win. At the moment, the Blue Jays are 4.5 games back of the Red Sox for the 2nd WC spot, a game back of the Mariners, who are 3.5 games back of the Red Sox and 2.5 games back of the A's, who are 2 games back of the Red Sox
- Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays begin a crucial 3-game series against the A's. Sean Manaea starts Friday and the Blue Jays have yet to set their rotation for the series.
