Sunday, May 28, 2023

Game #54 - Toronto Blue Jays (28-26) @ Minnesota Twins (27-26) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk drove in a pair in a 3-0 shutout win over the Twins

After another tough loss on a late game rally that came up short, the Blue Jays were looking to end the week and road trip on a winning note and note their 10th series win of the season. Jose Berrios got the start with Ajandro Kirk behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Whit Merrifield was in LF. Cavan Biggio was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays end the week and road trip with a win and notch their 10th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Alejandro Kirk single scoring Matt Chapman and Daulton Varsho
  • Bailey Ober pitching line: 5IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 7K 95 pitches (61 for strikes)
  • Jose Berrios pitching line: 5.2IP 4H 0R 5BB 5K 94 pitches (54 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th as Bo Bichette singled scoring George Springer 
  • Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless 9th for his 12th save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 3 Twins 0

My Take:

  • Jose berio's battle through 5.2 shutout innings, giving up 4 hits while walking 5 and striking out 5. Berrios is fortunate that he wasn't facing a better offensive lineup today. He should also be thanking George Springer and Daulton Varsho for two huge throws to gun down runners at 3rd base. If either one of those runners was safe, it would have had extended the inning and the Twins likely would have scored in at least one of those innings. I still believe that the umpires are getting wise to Kirk's tendency to bring his catcher's mitt dramatically up on balls that would be close calls for strikes. Berrios did get the benefit of the call on a couple of the pitches, but the umpire called ball four on five other occasions.
  • The bullpen was solid today, allowing a walk and a hit over the last 3.1 innings. Trevor Richards, Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano each struck out 3 batters.
  • Alejandro Kirk drove in a pair early and Bo Bichette drove in one late to drive the boys to a shutout win to end a miserable 2 week stretch.
  • Daulton Varsho got some revenge with a leaping catch in the 8th inning after two home runs deflected off his glove and over the center field wall yesterday.
  • Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays begin a 3-game homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers. Last season, the Brewers won the season series 2-1, outscoring the Blue Jays 19-16. Yusei Kikuchi starts against Brewers righty Adrian Houser.