| Teoscar Hernandez gave the Blue Jays the lead in the 6th inning with a 3-run HR in a 5-3 come-from-behind win over the Cubs |
After a nice come from behind win over the Cubs, the Blue Jays were looking for their second straight win and 19th series win of the season against old friend/ex-teammate Marcus Stroman. He pitched for the Blue Jays 2014-19, compiling a record of 47-45 with a 3.76 ERA in 135 games (129 starts). Stroman was 1-1 with a 4.40ERA in 5 playoff starts in 2015 and 2016. The Stro show made a miracle recovery from ACL surgery when he tore the ligament on a sprinkler head in 2015. Working with Nikki Huffman, who would become the Blue Jays head trainer for 2 seasons in 2018 and 2019, Stroman made it back foor 4 starts in September and 27 innings with a sparkling 1.67ERA. He then started 3 of the playoff games that season. Unfortunately, for all his talent, Stroman was at times too opinionated, leading to heated exchanges in the dugout and also on social media. He was traded to the Mets on July 28, 2019 for Simeon Woods-Richardson and Anthony Kay. Neither Ksy nor Woods-Richardson have been able to make the bigs for very long. Kay has played in 28 games over the last 4 seasons and is far down the depth chart for the Blue Jays behind Tim Mayza, Yusei Kikuchi and Taylor Saucedo, Woods-Richardson is now in the Twins minor league system and has never played a big league game. He's bounced around the minors, primarily at the AA-level and was recently demoted back to AA-ball after starting the year at the AAA-ball level. Back to Stroman. Tonight was the first time he has faced the Blue Jays in his career. He has faced every other team in the league at least three times. No doubt he'll be motivated to beat his former team.
Kevin Gausman got the start for the Blue Jays with Danny Jansen behind the plate. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Jackie Bradley Jr. in CF. Santiago Espinal was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and 19 series wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Cubs opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Wilson Contreras smacked a solo blast to left-center
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Danny Jansen
- The Cubs retook the lead in the top of the 6th as Christopher Morel drilled a solo bomb to dead center
- Marcus Stroman pitching line: 5IP 3H 1R (earned) 2BB 1K 88 pitches (52 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Teoscar Hernandez bashed a 3-run jack to the opposite field in right; also scoring Bo Bichete and Matt Chapman
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 9K 96 pitches (64 for strikes)
- The Cubs got one back in the top of the 7th as Morel doubled scoring Nelson Velazquez
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Guerrero Jr. belted a solo bomb to the opposite field in right
- Jordan Romano got the final 5 outs for his 28th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Cubs 3
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman threw six strong innings, giving up a pair of runs on five his while walking one and striking out nine. Gausman was helped by early double plays. The Cubs took him yard twice, but both times were only solo shots. Gausman is likely to start the second game of a 3-game WC series, especially if the Blue Jays were to lose the opening game. Berrios is simply too much of a risk to start an elimination game.
- The bullpen held the Cubs to a run on two hits while walking two and striking out three over the final three innings. Jordan Romano got the final five outs - the 9th time Romano has worked multiple innings.
- The offence was only able to muster one run on 3 hits and 2 walks off former Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman. Teo and Vlad combined to drive in 4 runs with opposie field HR jacks in the 6th and 7th innings respectively.
- In terms of the WC race., the Orioles lost and the Mariners and Rays won. This means the Blue Jays maintain their position with the 3rd WC spot a half game back of the Mariners and a game back of the Rays. The Orioles are 3 games back of the Blue Jays for the last WC spot and the Twins are 3.5 games of the Blue Jays
- Up next, the Blue Jays try for their 5th series sweep of the season and 3rd straight win overall. Mitch White gets the start, while the Cubs have not announced a starter for the game.
