Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Game #156- New York Yankees (96-59) @ Toronto Blue Jays (87-69) - game recap

 

Danny Jansen hit a solo HR in an 8-3 loss to the Yankees. Aaron Judge tied the AL single season and Yankees franchise single season record for HR with his 61st HR of the season.

After dropping yesterday's game to let the Yankees clinch the AL East title on enemy territory, the Blue Jays were looking to potentially clinch a playoff spot with a win and an Orioles loss. The Blue Jays were also looking for their 25th series win of the season. Mitch White got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. George Springer got the half day off as DH tonight with Jackie Bradley Jr. in CF. Could the Blue Jays clinch a playoff spot and notch their 25th series win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Josh Donaldson singled scoring Aaron Judge
  • A batter later, Oswald Peraza singled home Oslwaldo Cabrera 
  • Two batters later, Donaldson scored on a sac fly by Marwin Gonzalez
  • Mitch White pitching line: 3.2IP 5H 3R (all earned) 3BB 1K 69 pitches (46 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Danny Jansen belted a solo blast to left-center 
  • Four batters later, Bo Bichette singled scoring Whit Merrifield 
  • A batter later, Jackie Bradley Jr. scored on a sac fly by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  • The Yankees retook the lead in the top of the 7th as Judge smashed a 2-run bomb to left; alsio scoring Aaron Hicks. The HR tied both the AL and Yankees franchise mark for most home runs in a season, also held by Roger Maris, who hit 61 HR in 1961.
  • Four batters later, Harrison Bader singled scoring Peraza
  • Gerritt Cole pitching line: 6.1IP 3H 3R (all earned) 1BB 4K 92 pitches (58 for strikes)
  • The Yankees added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th on a throwing error by Adam Cimber on a ball hit by Bader that scored Cabrera and Donaldson
  • Final score: Yankees 8 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

  • Mitch White had a rough start giving up three runs on two hits and two walks in the 1st inning. In fact, before he recorded an out, he walked two and gave up a pair of singles. The bigger issue is he couldn't give the Blue Jays 4 innings. Getting a reliable 5th starter has to be a priority for Blue Jays management. The Blue Jays need their 5th starter to not only give them a chance to win more often than Yusei Kikuchi and Mitch White have been able to, but they must get deeper in games. With the travel restrictions and vaccine requirements in Canada gone in a few days, it should give the Blue Jays a few more options in free agency or the trade market.
  • The bullpen lost this game, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 brutal mistakes on the same play by Adam Cimber while walking none and striking out 7 over the final 5.1 innings. Tim Mayza took the loss - his first on the season - and gave up Judge's historic HR. One of the big questions as the season winds down is whether the bullpen is reliable enough and has enough in the tank to extend the season a playoff round or two or three.
  • With one historic moment happening, Gerritt Cole was quietly vying for a perfect game - that is until Danny Jansen went yard to break the perfect game, no hitter and shuout all with one mighty swing. The Blue Jays would strike twice more in the inning, aided by a balk by Cole and a subsequent sac fly. After that? Three walks and a single over the 7th and 8th innings and no more runs. 
  • In spite of the loss, the Blue Jays could well have clinched a playoff spot by the time they open their final regular season home series against the Red Sox Friday night. Tonight the Red Sox beat the Orioles and if they beat them again tomorrow, the Blue Jays will have clinched a playoff spot. The Rays also lost and the Mariners were leading the Rangers in the 4th inning. The Blue Jays remain in the 1st WC spot, 1.5 games up on the Rays and 2.5 up on the Mariners (the Mariners will gain another half game on the Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles if they hold on tonight).
  • Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open the final home stand of the regular season against the Red Sox. The Blue Jays have won 13 of the 16 games in the season series against the Red Sox, outscoring Boston 100-52. They  have swept the last 2 series against the Red Sox for 6 straight wins over their AL East rivals. Alek Manoah starts Friday against Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta.