After edging the Astros yesterday on a pair of George Springer solo shots and a solid pitching effort all around, the Blue Jays wrapped up the weekend set against Houston and were looking to earn the first season series win of the season. The win would also give them the tiebreaker over the Astros. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer was back in the field playing RF after DH'ing yesterday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got the half day off as DH with Vinny Capra, who was making his big league debut, in LF. Could the Blue Jays make it two in a row and notch their first season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Astros opened the scoring in the top of the 6th as Aledmys Diaz singled scoring Chas McCormick
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Bo Bichette whacked an opposite-field 2-run blast to right; also scoring George Springer
- The Astros tied the game in the top of the 7th as Niko Goodrum doubled scoring Kyle Tucker
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Santiago Espinal singled home Matt Chapman
- Framber Valdez pitching line: 6.1IP 2H 3R (all earned) 2BB 2K 101 pitches (61 for strikes)
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 7IP 6H 2R (both earned) 10K 98 pitches (71 for strikes)
- Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless 9th for his 11th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 3 Astros 2
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman is looking like the best signing of the off-season. The Blue Jays righty has still not walked a batter in any of his five starts. He struck out 10 batters and allowed a pair of runs on 6 hits over 7 innings. He retired the first five Astros he faced and responded to the Astros tying the game in the 7th by striking out the next 2 batters.
- Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano combined to allow a pair of hits while striking out 2 over the final 2 innings.
- Offensively, the bats were able to eke across just enough runs to prevail in this one. It was nice to see Bo knock one out of the park, given his struggles at the plate. Santiago's clutch single in the 7th proved to be the difference
- Vinny Capra was 0-2 with a strikeout in his MLB debut. No ball was hit to him. He was pulled from the game defensively to start the 7th inning.
- The Blue Jays were 1-2 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays open a 3-game set with the Yankees, who they earned a series split at Yankees stadium last month, Ross Stripling starts against Yankees lefty Jordan Montgomery
