After losing on a walk-off grand slam, the Blue Jays were looking for the series split and to snap the 2-game losing streak. Kevin Gausman got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. George Springer was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Alejandro Kirk served as DH today. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was given another full day off with Raimel Tapia in LF. Could the Blue Jays get the series split and snap the 2-game skid? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring George Springer
- The Blue Jays added 3 runs in the top of the 4th as Danny Jansen belted a 3- run bomb to left; also scoring Alejandro Kirk and Matt Chapman
- Jordan Hicks pitching line 3IP 4H 4R (all earned) 5BB 3K 78 pitches (40 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Springer tripled home Raimel Tapia
- A batter later, Springer scored on a sac fly by Santiago Espinal
- A batter after that, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bashed a solo blast to left-center
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Jansen drilled a solo bomb to left-center
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 2BB 8K 102 pitches (74 for strikes)
- The Cardinals got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Brendan Donovan singled scoring Tommy Edman
- Final score: Blue Jays 8 Cardinals 1
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman threw 6 shutout innings, scattering 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. Gausman has truly morphed into a solid replacement for Robbie Ray. His command has been excellent all season and he's kept the ball in the ball park. While he didn't have a huge streak of consecutive outs today, he made pitches when he had to in order to get out of innings with no damage done
- The bullpen did its part, although Ross Stripling gave up a run to break the shutout bid
- The bats finally came alive, plating 8 runs. There were surprise contributions with Danny Jansen going deep twice to drive in half the runs. Vlad also launched a long ball.
- The Blue Jays still had a dismal showing with runners in scoring position, going a miserable 2-14
- Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once.
- Up next, after an off day tomorrow the Blue Jays head west to take on the surprising LA Angels, who are 2nd in the AL West. Hyun-Jin Ryu starts against Angels righty Shoheu Ohtani
