| Jose Berrios pitched 6 solid innings in a 5-1 win over the Orioles |
After beatiing the Red Sox for the 9th straight time and sweeping them for the 3rd straight time (6 series sweeps on the season), the Blue Jays hit the road for their final series of the regular season in Baltimore. The season series against the Orioles is even at 8 wins apiece. The Blue Jays have outscored the Orioles 86-76. Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio at 1B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to four straight games? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Whit Merrifield singled scoring Matt Chapman and Teoscar Hernandez
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hammered a solo bomb to left-center
- The Orioles got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Anthony Santander that scored
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th on a wild pitch by Dean Kremer that scored Merrifield
- Dean Kremer pitching line: 6IP 6H 4R (3 earned) 1BB 4K 82 pitches (56 for strikes)
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 6IP 3H 1R (earned) 3BB 5K 91 pitches (58 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th as Chapman singled home Bo Bichette
- Tim Mayza pitched the 7th for his 2nd save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Orioles 1
My Take:
- Jose Berrios had a solid outing in his final regular season start. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits and a walk. He had a rough 3rd inning, loading the bases with one out on an infield single and a pair of walks. Berrios finished the year 12-7 with a 5.23ERA. It may be that was his last start of the season. The Blue Jays can't risk him having a bad start in a decisive game three. Should the Blue Jays advance to the divisional round, he'd likely start game 4.
- With the inclement weather ending the game an inning and a half early, Tim Mayza, who pitched a perfect 7th, earned his 2nd save of the season. The Blue Jays will need to play at least one more game to secure the top WC spot. Both remaining games may be necessary, especially if the Mariners come back tonight (they were down 4-1 in the 5th inning against the Tigers at the time this recap was published) and they sweep tomorrow's double header. The Blue Jays may well be looking at their own double header Wednesday with the forecast suboptimal for tomorrow.
- Offensively, Matt Chapman and Whit Merrifield did the damage, combining to drive in three runs and score twice. Vlad also went yard.
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 5th straight win and their 27th series win of the season. Mitch White starts against Orioles righty Mike Baumann
