After clinching their 8th straight win and second straight series sweep, the Blue Jays were going for their 9th straight W. They welcomed the AL Central-leading Twins, who played a pivotal role in the blue Jays missing the playoffs by a single game last season. Minnesota was a bottom-feeder team in 2021, but won 4 of 7 games against the Blue Jays despite the Blue Jays outscoring the Twins 28-25. This series will be a good test for the Blue Jays. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. George Springer was back in the lineup after missing a couple of days with a non-COVID illness. Matt Chapman got the complete day off after getting hit by a pitch late yesterday. Santiago Espinal took his spot at the hot corner. Cavan Biggio was at 2B. Lourdes was back in LF after the complete day off yesterday. Raimel Tapia, who drilled a foul ball into his knee, was in RF for Teo, who got the half day off as DH. Could the Blue Jays keep things rolling with their 9th straight win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Twins opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Kyle Garlick bashed a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Jorge Polanco
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as George Springer hammered a solo bomb to dead center
- Three batters later, Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring Bo Bichette
- The Twins retook the lead in the top of the 2nd as Jose Miranda smashed a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- The Twins added a run in the top of the 3rd as Garlick whacked a solo blast to left
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drilled a solo bomb to left-center
- Chi Chi Gonzalez pitching line: 3IP 4H 3R (all earned) 0BB 1K 45 pitches (32 for strikes)
- Yusei Kikuchi pitchig line: 4.2IP 7H 4R (all earned) 0BB 6K 67 pitches (48 for strikes)
- The Twins added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Miranda smacked a r-2-run blast to left; also scoring Luis Arraez
- The Twins added a run in the top of the 8th as Arraez singled home Nick Gordon
- The Twins added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Byron Buxton drilled a 2-run bomb to the second deck in left; also scoring Jermaine Palacios
- Final score: Twins 9 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Yusei Kikuchi battled through 4.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits while walking none and striking out 6. For Kikuchi, the long ball hurt him. The Twins took him deep 3 times. Normally walks are the issue, but tonight Kikuchi could not keep the ball in the ballpark
- The bullpen was also roughed up, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6 over the final 4.1 innings. The Twins took Trevor Richards and Jeremy Beasley yard for 4 of the runs.
- The offense responded well after the Blue Jays fell behind early, tying the game in the bottom of the 1st. However, there wasn't much else after that inning, other than a solo blast by Vlad in the 3rd inning. In fact there were no hits after Vlad's blast and the Blue Jays had just 3 more base runners on 3 walks
- Cavan Biggio was the only Blue Jay to reach base twice, drawing a pair of walks
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Jose Berrios starts against Twins righty Dylan Bundy
