Alek Manoah pitched 6 strong innings in a 9-1 blowout loss to the Yankees
After dropping the game yesterday on a late run by the Yankees, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series against the Yankees for the chance to keep the streak of series wins alive. The Blue Jays have won every series this season except the four-game series @ Yankee Stadium April 11-14 (the two teams split that series). Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Zack Collins served as DH tonight. Could the Blue Jays win to set up a rubber match? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 5th as Bo Bichette singled scoring Alejandro Kirk
- The Yankees tied the game in the top of the 6th as Aaron Judge drilled a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- Alek Manoah pitching line: 6IP 3H 1R (earned) 1BB 7K 91 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Yankees took the lead in the top of the 7th as Josh Donaldson doubled scoring Giancarlo Stanton
- Two batters later, Marwin Gonzalez doubled home Donaldson
- Two batters later, Gonzalez scored on a fielder's choice hit by Jose Trevino
- A batter later, Aaron Hicks singled scoring Isiah Kiner-Falefa
- A batter after that, Judge doubled home Trevino and Hicks
- Jameson Taillon pitching line: 6IP 5H 1R (earned) 0BB 4K 71 pitches (49 for strikes)
- The Yankees added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Stanton annihiliated a 2-run bomb off the facing of the 3rd deck; also scoring Hicks
- Final score: Yankees 9 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- It was a pitching duel through 6 innings with starters Alek Manoah and Jameson Taillon both allowing a single earned run each. Taillon allowed 2 more hits and Manoah walked a batter whereas Taillon did not. Manoah also struck out 3 more batters. Taillon needed 20 less pitches to get through the 6th inning. Manoah retired 15 straight batters at one point. It was the first game in which the Blue Jays lost when Manoah started since August 17, 2021. Manoah got a no-decision tonight
- The difference in the game was in the 7th when Adam Cimber and Julian Merryweather combined to allow 6 runs (5 earned) on 5 hits and a fielder's choice. Merryweather did not record an out
- Offensively, the Blue Jays did not cash in on their chances, going 1-11 with runners in scoring position
- Bo Bichette, Vlad and Alejandro kirk had multi-hit nights
- The loss also means the Blue Jays will suffer their first series loss of the season.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to salvage a win in the series and avoid being swept for the first time this season. Yusei Kikuchi starts against Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes
