| Danny Jansen was 3-4 with 5 RBI and a run scored in a 10-0 win over the Red Sox. |
After a resounding 9-0 shutout win over the Red Sox a day after the Blue Jays clinched a playoff berth with the Red Sox beating the Orioles Thursday, the Blue Jays were going for 2 straight wins and their 26th series win of the season and eight straight over the Red Sox. Ross Stripling got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Alejandro Kirk was DH. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins overall, 8 straight over the Red Sox and 26 series win? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Danny Jansen singled scoring Teoscar Hernandez
- A batter later, Raimel Tapia scored on a wild pitch by Brayan Bello
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Jansen doubled scoring Hernandez and Tapia
- Brayan Bello pitching line: 4IP 10H 4R (all earned) 2BB 4K 87 pitches (52 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Hernandez hammered a solo bomb to dead center
- Two batters later, Jansen whacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- Four batters later, George Springer scored on a ground-rule double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Ross Stripling pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 0BB 3K 88 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Hernandez doubled scoring Gabriel Moreno
- A batter later, Tapia singled scoring Matt Chapman
- A batter after that, Hernandez scored on a sac fly by Jansen
- Final score: Blue Jays 10 Red Sox 0
My Take:
- Ross Stripling had a solid final start of the season, tossing 6 shutout innings scattering 4 hits while walking none and striking out 3. Stripling started the year in the bullpen and joined the rotation when Hyun-Jin Ryu got hurt. He has been one of the Blue Jays most consistent pitchers, pitching 6 or more innings in 10 of his 23 starts on the season. Stripling finished with a 10-4 record with one save in 31 appearances. With one more year until he's eligible to be a free agent, Stripling should be back and will likely start the year in the rotation with Ryu likely missing the first couple of months.
- The bullpen allowed just one hit while striking out 4 over the final 3 innings. Jordan Romano saw his first action since Monday and pitched to three batters, retiring two and hitting the third. He'll likely get one or two more appearances in the final 4 games as the team focuses on rest/recovery as well as making sure everyone is sharp for the WC round.
- Danny Jansen, Teo and Raimel Tapia did the damage offensively, combining to go 9-13 with 8RBI and 7 runs scored.
- Congrats to Otto Lopez who got his first big league hit in the 7th inning. Here's hoping the Blue Jays clinch the top WC spot before the regular season finale so Lopez can start a game.
- Every Blue Jays starter had at least one hit.
- In terms of the WC race, the AL teams are set. The Indians, Yankees and Astros have clinched division titles and the Blue Jays, Rays and Mariners will be the three WC teams. The Yankees and Astros will have byes to the divisional round while the Indians will face the 3rd WC team at home. The Blue Jays are in the driver's seat to nab the coveted 1st WC spot which would mean all three WC games would be in Toronto. They are 1.5 games up on the Mariners and 2.5 games ahead of the Rays. The Blue Jays definitely want to avoid having to travel to Seattle, where they were swept in a 4-game series in August that pretty much ended Charlie Montoyo's time as manager. Tampa Bay would also not be a friendly place for the Blue Jays. Tropicana Field has been a house of horrors for the Blue Jays in recent years.
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 6th series sweep of the season (3rd straight sweep over the Red Sox, 3rd straight win overall and 9th straight win over the Red Sox. Kevin Gausman starts against Red Sox righty Michael Wacha
