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| Alek Manoah threw seven strong innings in a 2-0 shutout loss to the Angels |
After losing a clunker 12-0 last night, the Blue Jays were hoping ace Alek Manoah could outduel Angels ace Shohei Ohtani to even the series. The Blue Jays were paying homage to the 1992 world series team that won the Blue Jays first WS championship 30 years ago. They replicated the final out of that game for the first pitch with Mike Timlin throwing from the first base line to Joe Carter at 1B. George Springer returned to the field after missing a couple of weeks with that sore elbow and knee. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio at 1B. Jackie Bradley Jr. was in RF with Teo out with a foot contusion. Raimel Tapis got the start in LF. Could the Blue Jays even the weekend series? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- Jackie Bradley Jr. made an outstanding play for the 1st out of the 4th inning, gunning down Ryan Aguilar at 3B, who was trying to stretch a double into a triple
- The Angels opened the scoring in the top of the 6th as Luis Rengifo singled scoring David Fletcher
- Alek Manoah pitching line: 7IP 4H 1R (earned) 2BB 8K 109 pitches (72 for strikes)
- Shohei Ohtani pitching line: 7IP 2H 0R 1BB 9K 105 pitches (70 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Andrew Velazquez smacked a solo blast to right
- Jimmy Herget pitched a perfect 9th for his 3rd save of the season
- Final score: Angels 2 Blue Jays 0
My Take:
- The pitching duel between Shohei Ohtani and Alek Manoah emerged. Both pitchers put up 0's through the first 5 innings. Manoah gave up an RBI single in the 6th and that was the difference in the game. Bo Bichette flubbed the first ball hit to him for an error to start the game, putting Manoah into the stretch position right away. At one point, Manoah retired 8 in a row, thanks to Jackie Bradley Jr.'s great play to start the 5th inning.
- Anthony Bass gave up a solo shot in the 9th that put the game out of reach.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays best chance to score came in the 1st inning when they had runners on 1st and second with 2 outs. Unfortunately, Cavan Biggio lined out to Mike Trout to end the threat
- The Blue Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the WC race, the Rays lost, the Orioles and Astros were scoreless in the 3rd inning (at the time this recap was published) and the Mariners and Indians were playing 2 hours later
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to avoid being swept for the 3rd time this season and try to snap the 2 game skid. Ross Stripling starts against Angels lefty Tucker Davidson
