Saturday, June 25, 2022

Game #71- Toronto Blue Jays (40-31) @ Milwaukee Brewers (41-33) - game recap

 

Matt Chapman went 3-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI in a 5-4 loss to the Brewers

After a solid win over the Brewers last night, the Blue Jays were looking for their 3rd straight win and 13th series win of the season. Zack Collins was recalled from AAA ball (and would presumably catch if something happened to Gabriel Moreno after Alejandro Kirk took the back swing of Jonathan Davis off his glove hand last night. Kirk was well enough to DH today). Infielder Otto Lopez was optioned to AAA-ball. Yusei Kikuchi got the start. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Cavan Biggio got the start at 2B and batted leadoff. Could the Blue Jays make it three straight wins? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Brewers opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Tyrone Taylor singled scoring Willy Adames
  • The Brewers added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Adames singled scoring Keston Hiura
  • A batter later, Andrew McCutchen drilled a 2-runbomb to left; also scoring Adames
  • The Brewers added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Mike Brosseau hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
  • Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 2IP 6H 5R (2 earned) 1BB 5K 69 pitches (43 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th as Matt Chapman drilled a solo bomb to straightaway center 
  • Three batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. scored on a ground out by Cavan Biggio
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Bo Bichette drilled a solo bomb to dead center 
  • Corbin Burnes pitching line: 7.2IP 5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 9K 105 pitches (64 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got ome back in the top of the 9th as Gurriel Jr. singled home Chapman
  • Josh Hader pitched the 9th for his 22nd save of the season.
  • Final score: Brewers 5 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

  • It was another short outing for Yusei Kikuchi, who gave up 5 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits while walking 1and striking out 5 over just 2 innings. He gave up a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 1st inning and also hit a batter. The second inning wasn't much better with three runs crossing the plate, His day ended after giving up a leadoff HR to Mike Brosseau to start the 3rd inning. 
  • The bullpen did a solid job, holding the Brewers to a pair of hits and 3 walks over the final 6 innings while striking out 10. The Blue Jays only needed to use 2 more relievers, despite the short outing by Kikuchi. This is key since the Blue Jays have a lot of baseball to play over the next week, including a double header next Saturday.
  • The comeback fell short. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove in a run in the 9th, but Gabriel Moreno grounded out to Rowdy Tellez to end the game
  • Matt Chapman had a big day, going 3-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. 
  • Up next, the Blue Jays try to win the rubber match tomorrow and secure their 13th series win of the season. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Brewers righty Chi Chi Gonzalez