Games #28 and 29- Toronto Blue Jays (17-12) @ Cleveland Guadians (13-14) - game recap (record will reflect what it was at the end of the 2nd game

 

Kevin Gausman threw 6 strong innings in the first game of today's double header. The Blue Jays and Guardians split the two games with the Blue Jays taking the first game 8-3 and the Guardians winning the second game 8-2

The Blue Jays played their 1st double header of the season after yesterday's game was rained out. Teoscar Hernandez was activated off the IL and was the 27th man for today's double header. Gosuke Katoh was claimed off waivers by the Mets. Kevin Gausman started the 1st game and Ross Stripling was on the bump for the second game. Zack Collins caught the 1st game and Alejanrdo Kirk (who was DH in the 1st game) was behind the plate in the 2nd game. George Springer played in CF the 1st game and DH'd the 2nd game (Bradley Zimmer played CF the 2nd game). Raimel Tapia was in RF the 1st game and Hernandez played RF the 2nd game. Julian Merryweather was optioned to AAA after pitching 2 innings in the 1st game and Ryan Borucki was activated from the 10-day IL. Could  the Blue Jays sweep the double header? Here is/are the game recap(s).

Game Highlights (1st game):

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Raimel Tapia singled scoring Matt Champain and Santiago Espinal
• A batter later, George Springer doubled scoring Alejandro Kirk and Tapia
• The Guardians got one back in the bottom of the 3rd as Steven Kwan singled scoring Myles Straw
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 4th as Tapia singled home Espinal
• A batter later, Springer singld scoring Kirk 
• A batter after that, Tapia scored on a fielder's choice hit by Bo Bichette 
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 3.1IP 8H 7R (all earned) 3BB 0K  71 pitches (38 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Zack Collins scored on a fielder's choice hit by Kirk 
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6.1IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 5K 104 pitches (69 for strikes)
• The Guardians got one back in the top of the 8th on a fielder's choice hit by Owen Miller that scored Straw
• A batter later, Kwan scored on a sac fly by Josh Naylor
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Guardians 3

My Take (1st game):

• Kevin Gausman had another solid start for the Blue Jays, giving up 1 run on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5. It was the first time Gausman has walked a batter this season. He has yet to allow a home run. His splitter has proven to be a devastating pitch, leading to many swings and misses and ground balls. Gausman has been the best starting pitcher on the Blue Jays and worth every penny of the contract he signed.
• Trent Thornton had a shaky outing in the 8th, walking the bases loaded. Julian Merryweather. Hopefully he can bounce back, but he could lose his spot once Nate Pearson is ready to pitch. Pearson is currently building back up after recovering from Mono.
• The bats finally came alive, with an assist to the Guardian pitchers who walked 10 batters. Every Blue Jays starter, except Bo Bichette got on base at least once and all but Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Zack Collins had at least one hit
• The Blue Jays were 4-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the second game of the double header. Ross Stripling starts against Guardians righty Triston McKenzie

Game Highlights (2nd game):

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring as Bo Bichette doubled home George Springer 
• The Guardians took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Owen Miller double scoring Amed Rosario and Jose Ramirez
• Two batters later, Andre Gimenez singled scoring Miller 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 2nd as Santiago Espinal doubled scoring Matt Chapman
• The Guardians added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Franmil Reyes drilled a solo bomb over the wall in left
• Ross Stripling pitching line: 4IP 5H 4R (all earned) 1BB 3K 78 pitches (50 for strikes)
• The Guardians added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Reyes singled scoring Rosario
• The Guardians added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Luke Maile doubled scoring Oscar Mercado
• Two batters later, Kwan singled home Maile
• Triston McKenzie pitching line: 6IP 4H 2R (both earned) 2BB 6K 102 pitches (68 for strikes)
• The Guardians added a run in the bottom of the 7th on a sac fly by Mercado that scored Miller 
• Final score: Guardians 8 Blue Jays 2

My Take (2nd game):

• Ross Stripling battled through the first 4 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. The Guardians got to Stripling right away, tagging the Blue Jays righty for 3 runs on 4 hits in the opening inning. He retired the final batter he faced. With Ryu likely rejoining the rotation sometime next week, it is likely Stripling's last start. Stripling will likely be moved to the bullpen as a long man.
• The relievers had a rough 2nd game, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 over the final 4 innings, putting the game out of reach. The only positive was Borucki getting through an inning after missing 10 days with a blister problem.
• The bats were quieter in the 2nd game, producing a pair of runs. The last Blue Jays runner was a lead off walk to Alejandro Kirk to start the 3rd7
• The Blue Jays were 2-5 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the final game of the series where the Blue Jays will attempt to split the 4-game series (the Guardians won the opening game). Alek Manoah gets the start against Guardians lefty Konnor Pilkington