Game #42- Toronto Blue Jays (22-20) @ St. Louis Cardinals (24-18) - game recap

 

George Springer drove in a pair of runs and scored once in a 7-3 loss to the Cardinals on a walk-off grand slam to Paul Goldschmidt in the 10th inning

After dropping the finale of the series against the Reds and the home stand on a solo shot by Joey Votto in what was likely his final game in Toronto,. the Blue Jays hit the road, beginning with a mini 2-game series in St. Louis that began tonight. It was the first game the Blue Jays played in the NL with the universal DH in effect. Up until this season, pitchers batted in the NL. The last time these two squads met was in 2017 where the Cardinals won 2 of the 3 games and outscored the Blue Jays 19-14. The Blue Jays will not face former teammate Steven Matz, who is on the IL with an injured shoulder, in this series. Ace Jose Berrios got the start. Alejandro Kirk was behind the plate. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Bradley Zimmer in CF. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was back in LF after getting the full day off yesterday. Could the Blue Jays start the week and road trip with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

 

Game Highlights:

• The Cardinals opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Brendan Donovan doubled scoring Nolan Arenado
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 6th as George Springer belted a solo bomb to left
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 7th on a bases loaded walk to Springer that forced in Alejandro Kirk
• A batter later, a bases loaded walk to Santiago Espinal forced in Matt Chapman
• Miles Mikolas pitching line: 6.2IP 4H 3R (all earned) 2BB 5K 99 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Cardinals got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Juan Yepez smashed a solo blast to left
• Three batters later, Harrison Bader singled scoring Donovan
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 6.1IP 7H 3R (all earned) 0BB 7K 102 pitches (71 for strikes)
• The Cardinals walked it off in the bottom of the 10th  on a bases loaded grand slam to left by Paul Goldschmidt that also scored Lars Nootbaar, Tommy Edman and Edmundo Sosa 
• Final score: Cardinals 7 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Jose Berrios was solid through 6.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits while walking none and striking out 7. He retired 13 in a row before giving up a HR to Juan Yepez. He deserved a better fate, but it was not the best night for the bullpen
• The normally reliable Adam Cimber gave up a game tying single to take away the win for Berrios. Trevor Richards and Julian Merryweather held the Cardinals off the scoreboard to give the Blue Jays an opportunity to take the lead. David Phelps came in and got two outs. Ryan Borucki just needed one out and instead loaded the bases on a walk and then gave up the mammoth grand slam to Goldschmidt.
• The Blue Jays will be lamenting more missed opportunities. They loaded the bases with two outs and could only etch across 2 runs on walks. In the 10th inning, they couldn't even advance George Springer to 3rd base. Springer is a fast runner so even a single to the outfield likely would have scored him
• The Blue Jays were a brutal 0-10 with runners in scoring position. Something needs to give because this lineup is too talented to keep missing these opportunities.
• Every Blue Jays starter except Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez reached base at least once
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to earn the series split. Kevin Gausman gets the start against Cardinals righty Jordan Hicks