Game #162 Baltimore Orioless (52-110) @ Toronto Blue Jays (91-71) - game recap

 

George Springer hit a solo shot and a grand slam in a 12-4 rout over the Orioles to end the season

It all comes down to this: win and maybe force an extra game if the Red Sox and/or Yankees lose their final game today. Lose and the Blue Jays are out. They are fielding the same lineup that trounced the Orioles 10-1 yesterday and the usually reliable Hyun-Jin Ryu is on the bump. Could the Blue Jays make it three straight wins? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as George Springer drilled a lead-off solo bomb to dead center 
• Four batters later, Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring Marcus Semien
• Two batters later, Santiago Espinal singled home Bo Bichette 
• Bruce Zimmerman pitching line: 0.2IP 5H 3R (all earned) 0BB 1K 28 pitches (17 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 2nd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hammered an opposite-field 2-run bomb to the second deck in right; also scoring Springer
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 3rd as Tyler Nevin belted a mammoth solo bomb to the 4th deck in left. It was his first career HR
• The Blue Jays added 4 runs in the bottom half of the inning as Springer smashed a grand slam to left-center; also scoring Hernandez, Espinal and Danny Jansen
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th as Hernandez singled scoring Guerrero Jr. and Bichette 
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 5th as Richie Martin scored on a fielder's choie and ensuing throwing error by Semien on a ball hit by Ryan Mountcastle
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Semien hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
• Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching line: 5IP 6H 2R (both earned) 1BB 7K 77 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 7th on a sac fly by Pedro Severino that scored Austin Hays
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 8th as Hays singled home Cedric Mullins
• Final score: Blue Jays 12 Orioles 4

My Take:

• Hyun-Jin Ryu did what was asked of him, throwing five effective innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7. Ryu even gutted out getting drilled by a 100+MPH comebacker that nailed him in the thigh to give the Blue Jays 4 extra outs. He retired the first 6 batters he faced before giving up a no-doubter. 
• The bullpen wobbled but didn't break, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 over the final 4 innings. You could tell the relievers didn't have much left in the tank, but they made enough pitches when it counted
• The bats gave the Blue Jays fans one final bash, bashing 5 home runs for 7 runs, including a grand slam from George Springer. 
• Every Blue Jays starter, except Randal Grichuk (had to leave after 1 AB) and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had at least 1 hit and scored at least once
• The Blue Jays needed either the Red Sox or Yankees to lose to force a game 163. Alas, the Yankees walked it off in the 9th and the Red Sox came from behind. The Mariners would have been eliminated regardless as they lost their season finale. 
• Up next, the off-season. Stay tuned for a season review with a look back on the season that was and a look ahead to the off-season.. I'm shooting to get 'er done by Tuesday.