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| Alek Manoah pitched 7.2 strong innings in a losing effort as the Mariners came from behind to edge the Blue Jays 2-1 |
After a heart-breaking extra-innings loss last night, the Blue Jays were looking for their first win of the series facing old teammate Robbie Ray, who won the 2021 Cy Young. Ace Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got the half day off as DH with Raimel Tapia in LF. Could the Blue Jays eke out a win vs. Robbie Ray? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 6th as George Springer whacked an opposite field solo blast to right-center
- Robbie Ray pitching line: 6IP 3H 1R (earned) 2BB 6K 95 pitches (60 for strikes)
- The Mariners took the lead in the bottom of the 7th as Carlos Santana bashed a 2-run blast to right; also scoring JP Crawford
- Alek Manoah pitching line: 7.1IP 3H 2R (both earned) 4BB 7K 103 pitches (62 for strikes)
- Diego Castillo pitched a scoreless 9th for his 5th save of the season
- Final score: Mariners 2 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- It was the expected pitching duel with aces Alek Manoah and Robbie Ray pitted against each other. Both pitchers allowed 3 hits, both aces made one mistake. The difference was Manoah's mistake counted for two runs and Ray's mistake was a solo shot. Manoah was brilliant, allowing just one hit and 2 walks through the first 6 innings. Unfortunately, JP Crawford led off the 7th with a single and then Carlos Santana took him yard.
- Yimi Garcia did his job and retired the two batters he faced to keep the Blue Jays within a run
- The Blue Jays looked like they were going to tie the game after Vlad and Alejandro Kirk - the 2 Blue Jay all-star starters - got back to back clutch singles. After Teoscar Hernandez grounded out to 1st base, Castillo and the Mariners elected to intentionally walk Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Matt Chapman grounded out to end the game
- It certainly hasn't been the return to Seattle the Blue Jays wanted to give their fans. Three straight losses. Is it fatigue from the huge amount of baseball in the last 3 weeks? Is it the team still grieving the loss of Julia Budzinski? Is it the time difference that's been having a huge impact? Probably a combination of all three. Either way, the Blue Jays face the very real possibility of leaving Seattle out of a playoff spot.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to end the 3-game losiing streak and avoid the 4-game series sweep. Whoever wins tomorrow will also clinch the season series. Righty Logan Gilbert starts for the Mariners. It will likely be a bullpen day for the Blue Jays as Kevin Gausman is aiming for his next scheduled start, which would be Wednesday against Philadelphia.
