It all comes down to this, after 27 grinding weeks of baseball, the Blue Jays have reached the final week of the reglar season. Tonight, they opened a crucial 3-game set against the red-hot Yankees - winners of 6 straight. The Blue Jays have won 10 of the first 16 meetings in the season series, outscoring the Bronx Bombers 69-50. The Blue Jays lineup added a lefty-bat with Cavan Biggio being reinstated from the IL. Ryan Borucki was optioned to AAA. Hyun-Jin Ryu came off the IL to start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. George Springer was back in the field after DH'ing Sunday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the lineup as DH after missing 2 games after having his hand stomped on Friday by Randal Grichuk, requiring stitches. Could the Blue Jays make it three wins in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Bo Bichette singled scoring George Springer
- The Yankees tied the game in the top of the 4rd as Aaron Judge bashed an opposite-field shot to right-center and into the Yankees bullpen
- Yankees pitcher Jameson Taillon left the game after striking out Danny Jansen in the bottom of the 3rd with an ankle injury
- James Taillon pitching line: 2.1IP 1H 1R (earned) 1BB 2K 38 pitches (21 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Corey Dickerson doubled home Bichette
- The Yankees tied the game in the top of the 5th as Anthony Rizzo singled scoring Gio Urshela
- A batter later, DJ LeMahieu scored on a sac fly by Judge
- Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching line: 4.1IP 6H 3R (all earned) 1BB 3K 93 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Yankees added 3 runs in the top of the 7th as Giancarlo Stanton drilled a 3-run bomb to the second deck in left; also scoring LeMahieu and Judge
- The Yankees added a run in the top of the 9th as Urshela bashed a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- Final score: Yankees 7 Blue Jays 2
My Take:
- Hyun-Jin Ryu battled through 4.1 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. It wasn't his most efficient outing, taking an average of 20 pitches to get through an inning. Ryu made one mistake pitch to Aaron Judge and the Yankees got to him a bit in the 5th inning. It was probably Ryu's final start of the season. He'd line up to start the season finale, but if the Blue Jays look like they'll be playing an extra game or two, they'll probably hold Ryu back to pitch in either the WC gam, if they need to play a tie breaker just to get to a WC game or the 1st game of a division series, likely vs. the Rays) (Robbie Ray would pitch the tie breaker or WC game)\
- The bullpen had mixed results. Adam Cimber conceded a sac fly. Nate Pearson threw a scoreless inning, striking out 2 and walking 1. Trevor Richards gave up a towering 3-run bomb on a pitch where he had to tip his cap to a good hitter (the pitch was a ball nearly at the batter's feet and Giancarlo Stanton ripped it into the second deck). Julian Merryweather gave up a hit and struck out 2 in 1.1 innings. Anthony Castro gave up a solo jack. You'd figure 2 or 3 of those relievers would be in a playoff bullpen
- Offensively, it was not a good night for the Blue Jays, who could not take advantage of a break handed to them when starter Jameson Taillon had to leave after just 4 outs with an ankle injury. Bo Bichette was in on both runs driving in the 1st run and scoring the second run.
- The Blue Jays did not have a hit after the 4th inning anf the final 10 batters in a row were retired.
- The Blue Jays were 2-7 with runners in scoring position
- The good news is the Red Sox also lost so the Blue Jays remain a game back of them for the 2nd WC spot. Worst case scenario is the Mariners could be a half game ahead of the Blue Jays and a half game back of the Red Sox if they win tonight over the A's (If the A's prevail, they will be 2.5 games back of the Blue Jays)
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series against the Yankees. Jose Berrios starts against Yankees ace Gerritt Cole
