The Blue Jays are living up to expectations very early in the season. They erased a 7-0 deficit and beat the Rangers 10-8 on opening night. They won yesterday on the strength of a solid pitching performance from Kevin Gausman, a lights out bullpen and enough offence to win the day. Today, the Blue Jays were looking to make a huge statement by sweeping the season-opening series. Hyun-Jin Ryu made his first start of the season. Danny Jansen was back behind the plate after a day off yesterday. George Springer got the half day off as DH. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was back in LF after DH'ing yesterday. Raimel Tapia got the start in CF. Santiago Espinal was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays sweep the Rangers? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as George Springer led off with a solo smash to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- Five batters later, Matt Chapman drilled a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
- The Rangers got one back in the top of the 2nd as Nick Solak whacked an opposite-field solo blast to right
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Danny Jansen smacked a solo shot just over the fence in left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. annihilated a solo bonb into the 3rd deck in straightaway center
- The Rangers got one back in the top of the 4th as Andy Ibanez doubled scoring Adolis Garcia
- Two batters later, Charlie Culberson singled home Ibanez
- A batter later, Jonah Heim singled scoring Solak
- A batter after that, Brad Miller doubled home Culberson and Heim
- Two batters later, Corey Seager singled scoring Miller
- Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching line: 3.1IP 5H 6R (all earned) 2BB 4K 70 pitches (43 for strikes)
- Spencer Howard pitching line: 3IP 6H 6R (all earned) 0BB 5K 49 pitches (34 for strikes)
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 5th as Nathaniel Lowe singled scoriing Garcia
- Two batters later, Solak scored on a sac fly by Miller
- The Rangers added a pair of runs in the top of the 7th as Heim hooked a 2-run bomb into the second deck and just inside the left foul pole; also scoring Solak
- A batter later, Miller drilled a solo bomb to dead center
- Final score: Rangers 12 Blue Jays 6
My take:
- It was the first time in his Blue Jays career that Hyun-Jin Ryu did not get the nod as the opening day nod. He started off well enough, retiring the first 5 batters he faced before Blue Jays killer of the day Nick Solak took him yard. However, in the fourth inning the wheels came off completely and he couldn't get out of the inning. In total, the Rangers plated 6 runs on 6 hits and a walk and 5 of those runs were charged to Ryu. The good thing is Ryu is a veteran who has earned the benefit of the doubt, and as manager Charlie Montoyo pointed out after the game, it was a shortened spring training and none of the pitchers were properly built up.
- The bullpen also had a rough day, giving up 6 runs (all earned) on 6 hits while walking 5 and striking out 6.
- Once again the Blue Jays offence lived and died on the long ball. They scored 6 runs off balls that left the yard, but were 1-7 with runners in scoring position. Further, they struck out 14 times
- Up next, the Blue Jays hit the road for the first time, opening a 4-game series at Yankee stadium tomorrow. Alek Manoah starts against Yankees righty Jameson Taillon
