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| Teoscar Hernandez hit a pair of 2-run HR in an 8-2 win over the Phillies |
After a hard-fought win yesterday, the Blue Jays were looking to make it two wins in a row. In an unexpected move, Charlie Montoyo was fired this afternoon. The timing was awkward given the team won yesterday, but the team couldn't really make the move on the off-day since the team was at a funeral celebrating the life of first base coach Mark "Bud" Budzinski's eldest daughter Julia, who died tragically on the Canada Day long weekend in a tubing accident. Even though the Blue Jays won yesterday, they blew two different leads. I suppose the team felt the move could not wait a week lest the Blue Jays lose too much ground in the WC race. After Sunday's loss, they were officially out of a playoff spot and that couldn't have sat well with upper management. Brian Schneider will be the interim manager. Casey Candaele was appointed interim bench coach. Ross Stripling got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got the half day off as DH with Raimel Tapia in LF. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 wins in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd on a fielder's choice hit by Raimel Tapia that scored Matt Chapman
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bashed a solo blast to left-center
- Two batters later, Teoscar Hernandez hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Alejandro Kirk
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Bo Bichette singled scoring Tapia
- A batter later, George Springer scored on a sac fly by Guerrero Jr.
- Zack Wheeler pitching line: 4.2IP 7H 6R (all earned) 1BB 4K 91 pitches (65 for strikes)
- The Phillies got a pair back in the top of the 7th as Bryson Scott bashed a 2-run blast to right-center; also scoring Rhys Hoskins
- Ross Stripling pitching line: 7IP 2H 2R (none earned) 0BB 6K 81 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Hernandez smashed an opposite-field 2-run blast to right; also scoring Kirk
- Final score: Blue Jays 8 Phillies 2
My Take:
- Ross Stripling was excellent tonight, throwing seven strong innings, allowing a pair of runs, neither of which was earned, on 2 hits while walking none and striking out 6. He retired the first 11 batters he faced, then 7 straight after allowing a 2 out double in the 4th to ruin the perfect game and no-hit bid. Stripling really just had 2 mistake pitches all night (on the double in the 4th and the HR ball in the 7th). After 7 innings, Stripling had thrown a very economical 81 pitches and probably could have started the 8th inning.
- The bullpen was perfect. Tim Mayza retired the side in order and Trevor Richards struck out the side in the 9th to end the game on an exclamation point
- The bats responded to the news of Charlie Montoyo being fired in a big way with a pair of 2-run jacks by Teo, a solo shot and sac fly by Vlad, an RBI single by Bo and a fielder's choice by Raimel Tapia
- Every Blue Jays batter reached base at least once, and all but Matt Chapman had at least one hit
- Up next, the Blue Jays try for three in a row as they begin a four-game set against the Royals to end the unofficial 1st half of the 2022 season. The Blue Jays took 2/3 from the Royals June 6-8 in Kansas City and they outscored the Royals 19-8. Kevin Gausman makes his return to the rotation after skipping a start after getting drilled in the ankle by a comebacker in his last start on the Canada Day weekend. The Royals have not set their rotation for the series.
