Thursday, August 18, 2022

Game #117- Toronto Blue Jays (63-54) @ New York Yankees (73-46) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored three times and drove in 3 runs in a 9-2 rout over the Yankees

After a win over the Orioles, the Blue Jays hit the road for a week long road trip, starting with a 4-game set that opened tonight in NY against the division-leading Bronx Bombers. The Yankees have won 8 of the 12 meetings in the season Phillies. Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer was back in the lineup as DH.  Whit Merrifield was in CF. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Teoscar Hernandez scored on a fielder's choice hit by Santiago Espinal
  • Two batters later, George Springer singled scoring Santiago
  • A batter later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bashed a three-run blast to the opposite-field in right-center also scoring Springer and Whit Merrifield 
  • The Yankees got one back in the bottom of the 3rd as Jose Trevino scored on a throwing error by Jose Berrios on a ball hit by DJ LeMahieu
  • A batter later, Estevan Florial scored on a fielder's choice on a ball hit by Aaron Judge
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th as Alejandro Kirk doubled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  • Frankie Montas pitching line: 6IP 8H 6R (all earned) 1BB 2K 92 pitches (59 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Springer scored on a sac fly by Kirk 
  • A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez doubled home Guerrero Jr. and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
  • Jose Berrios pitching line: 6.2IP 6H 2R (1 earned) 1BB 9K 95 pitches (68 for strikes)
  • Final score: Blue Jays 9 Yankees 2

My Take:

  • Jose Berrios the good pitcher showed up today. He gave up a pair of runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 9. One of the runs was unearned due to a throwing error by Berrios. He retired 7 batters in a row. Hopefully he builds off this start.
  • The bullpen held the Yankees to a hit and a walk while striking out 4 over the last 2.2 innings. Yusei Kikuchi pitched a scoreless 8th in his first career relief appearance. He walked the first batter and allowed a single before retiring the next three batters to escape the jam. Maybe the bullpen will be the tonic for Kikuchi. At least it'll force him to throw strikes more consistently.
  • The offense bust out of the gate with 5 runs in the second, capped off by a 3-run shot from Vlad that cleared the short porch in right-center 
  • Vlad had a monster day at the plate, driving in 3 runs and scoring 3 times. Fellow all-star Alejandro Kik contributed a pair of RBI. A third fellow all-star, Santiago Espinal drove in a run and scored a run. George Springer, who was selected as an all-star but declined the invitation was 5-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored
  • Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once and all but  Santiago and Whit Merrifield had at least one hit
  • Up next. the Blue Jays go for their third straight win. Kevin Gausman starts against Yankees righty Jameson Taillon