Friday, April 28, 2023

Game #26 - Seattle Mariners (11-15) @ Toronto Blue Jays (17-9) - game recap

 

George Springer drove in the game-winning run in a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Mariners to extend the winning streak to 5 games and snap a 7-game sjud vs. the Mariners

After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened the most anticipated series of the season against their expansion cousins Seattle Mariners, who have a six game winning streak vs. the Blue Jays, including the disastrous wild card series in Toronto and a 4-game sweep last season in Seattle. The Mariners won the regular season series 5-2, but the Blue Jays outscored the Mariners 28-21. It also marked the return of Teoscar Hernandez to Toronto following an off-season trade to the Mariners that sent righty reliever Erik Swanson the other way. Hernandez came to Toronto in a trade with Houston (along with Nori Aoki) in 2017 that sent lefty Francisco Liriano to the Astros. In 609 games as a blue Jay, Hernandez batted .363 with 129HR and 369RBI. Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Brandon Belt served as DH. Daulton Varsho was in LF, Kevin Kiermaier got the start in CF and Whit Merrifield was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 5 games and snap s 7-game skid against the Mariners? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Cal Raleigh hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in right 
  • The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Alejandro Kirk smashed a solo jack to left-center 
  • The Mariners retook the lead in the top of the 3rd as Raleigh singled scoring Jarred Kelenic
  • The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Matt Chapman doubled home Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  • Alek Manoah pitching line: 5IP 6H 2R (both earned) 4BB 7K 100 pitches (61 for strikes) 
  • Luis Castillo pitching line: 5IP 6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 95 pitches (59 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as George Springer singled scoring Whit Merrifield 
  • Jordan Romano pitched a perfect 9th for his 9th save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 3 Mariners 2

My Take:

  • Alek Manoah battled through 5 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 7. He definitely did not have his best stuff tonight. With the run in the 2nd inning, the streak of scoreless innings ended at 20.1 innings.
  • The bullpen was excellent tonight, throwing 4 perfect innings and striking out eight. Tim Mayza was credited with the win
  • Blue Jays pitchers did a great job against ex-Blue Jays slugger Teoscar Hernandez, striking him out 3 times. Hernandez was 0-4 tonight
  • Offensively, the Blue Jays rallied in the 2nd and 3rd innings after the Mariners took one-run leads in the top half of those innings. George Springer had a clutch RBI base hit in the 6th to give the Blue Jays the lead.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 6th straight win and their 7th series win of the season. Kevin Gausman starts against Mariners righty Chris Flexen