| Kevin Gausman threw 6 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals |
After the usual early season built in off day to avoid early postponements due to inclement weather, the Blue Jays were looking ro make it two straight wins to start the season. Kevin Gausman got the start He is looking to build off a solid first season in Toronto where he went 12-10 with a 3.35ERA over 31 starts. Danny Jansen was behind the plate and Cavan Biggio got the start as 2B. The rest of the lineup was the same as opening day Thursday. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins to start the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Cardinals opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd on a throwing error by Matt Chapman on a ball hit by Nolan Arenado that scored Brendan Donovan
- A batter later, Nolan Gorman singled scoring Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt
- Jack Flaherty pitching line: 5IP 0H 0R 7BB 4K 95 pitches (49 for strikes)
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 8H 3R (none earned) 1BB 7K 90 pitches (64 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th on a wild pitch by Jordan Hicks that scored Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- The Cardinals added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Jiordan Walker singled home Arenado
- Ryan Heisley got the last five outs for his first save of the season
- Final score: Cardinals 4 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman battled through 6 innings, giving up three runs (all unearned) on 8 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7. He had an especially rough 3rd inning where he gave up the three runs on three hits and a throwing error. His only perfect 1-2-3 inning was the 5th.
- The bullpen gave up a run on 2 hits over the final two innings
- Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado did the damage offensively, scoring twice and causing the first one by forcing a bad throw.
- Work still needs to be done on the attention to details that was toted in spring training
- Offensively, the Blue Jays were no hit through 6 innings before Kevin Kiermaier broke up the no-hit bid with a single. The Blue Jays were not able to take advantage of Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty's wildness. They drew seven walks, but could not scrape a run across home plate
- Up next, the rubber match. Chris Bassitt makes his Blue Jays regular season debut. The Cardinals will counter with lefty Jordan Montgomery.
