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| Alejandro Kirk had a hit and drew a pair of walks in a 12-0 shutout loss to the Angels |
After sweeping the Red Sox with an extra inning win with George Springer driving in the winning run for the second straight day, the Blue Jays returned home for a six game home stand starting tonight against the Angels. The Blue Jays swept the Angels for their first series sweep May 26-29, outscoring the Angels 27-21 in that series. Mitch White got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Whit Merrifield was in CF and George Springer was DH for the 4th straight day. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Angels opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as David Fletcher doubled scoring Jo Adell and Ryan Aguilar
- Two batters later, Shohei Ohtani tripled scoring Andrew Velazquez and Fletcher
- A batter later, Luisa Rengifo singled home Ohtani
- Teoscar Hernandez left the game in the top of the 3rd after fouling a ball off his foot in his only AB in the 1st inning. He stayed in the game for the 2nd inning defensively, but could not continue after that
- The Angels added a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd as as Valazquez whacked a 2-run jack to right-center and into the Angels bullpen; also scoring Aguilar
- Mitch White pitching line: 5IP 8H 7R (all earned) 3BB 5K 91 pitches (53 for strikes)
- Reid Detmers pitching line: 5.1IP 4H 0R 3BB 5K 105 pitches (66 for strikes)
- The Angels added a run in the top of the 7th as Adell belted a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- The Angels added a pair of runs in the top of the 8th as Mike Trout smacked an opposite-field shot to right and into the Angels bullpen; also scoring Fletcher. This run was historic for Trout and the Angels with Trout now having scored the most all-time runs by an Angels player.
- The Angels added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Adell drilled a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Matt Thaiss
- Final score: Angels 12 Blue Jays 0
My Take:
- Mitch White had a rough night, getting lit up for 7 runs on 8 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5. The 2nd inning was an especially bad one for White, who gave up 5 runs on 5 hits and a walk., capped off by a 2-run triple that Teo misplayed. Hernandez was removed from the game to start the next inning. It's too bad really because White did a decent job his first 2 games, Hopefully he can rebound from a bad start better than a certain Japanese lefty.
- Yusei Kikuchi had another subpar performance, giving up a pair of home runs for three runs. He walked the first batter he faced on 4 pitches. He did retire the next five batters, striking out four of those batters and three in a row, before giving up the solo bomb. No doubt the 2022 season can't end fast enough for Kikuchi
- Two challenges both went against the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the 1st Vlad was called out on a steal attempt after an initial safe call. To start the 2nd inniing, the safe call was upheld.
- The defense certainly did the pitchers no favors tonight. Teo missed a catchable ball in the 2nd that went for an Ohtani 2-run triple. Vlad made a throwing error that should have resulted in at least one out in the 1st. Vlad also misplayed a bunt in the 2nd inning. Perhaps it was travelling and arriving home late
- The Blue Jays did nothing with 2 bases loaded opportunities and a situation with runners on 2nd and 3rd. They were 0-8 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Rays lost, Orioles won and the Mariners were losing to the Indians. Worse case scenario, Seattle passes the Blue Jays and the Blue Jays fall to the 3rd WC spot
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even this weekend series. Alek Manoah starts against Angels righty Shohei Ohtani
