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| Brandon Belt his a 2-run HR in a 6-4 win over the Mets for the 2nd series sweep of the season and the 1st season series sweep of the season. |
After another late inning win thanks to a clutch RBI double from Vlad, the Blue Jays were going for the 4th straight win and 3rd series win of the season. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Brandon Belt at 1B. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Whit Merrifield got the start in LF. Is Cavan Biggio was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it four straight wins and complete their 3rd series sweep f the season and 1st series sweep of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Whit Merrifield doubled scoring Matt Chapman and Daulton Varsho
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. snashed a solo jack to left
- Three batters later, Chapman scored from second base on a throwing error by Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez
- Kodai Senga pitching line: 2.2IP 4H 4R (3 earned) 5BB 3K 68 pitches (34 for strikes)
- The Mets got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Tommy Pham whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right
- The Mets got one back in the bottom of the 5th as Pham hammered a soo bomb to left
- Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 5IP 4H 2R (both earned) 1BB 8K 89 pitches (62 for strikes)
- The Mets got one back in the bottom of the 6th inning as Pete Alonso cranked a solo jack just over the wall in left
- Two batters later, Starling Marte hammered a solo bomb to left
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 7th as Brandon Belt belted a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Guerrero Jr.
- Jordan Romano pitched a perfect 9th for his 15th save of the season.
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Astros 4
My Take:
- Yusei Kikuchi had a solid start, giving up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 8. He's probably glad he won't have to face Tommy Pham, who took him yard twice, again this season. The most encouraging stat for me is Kikuchi only walked one batter, something he had been struggling with in recent starts. Hopefuly he carries today's success into the next start.
- Kikuchi got a no-decision because the first man out of the bullpen, Nate Pearson, gave up a pair of solo HR in his inning of work. Pearson got credit for the win thanks to Brandon Belt going deep in the top of the 7th. Jordan Romano had an efficient 6 pitch save, so he should be available the next two days, if needed.
- Brandon Belt was an unlikely hero, beltting a 2-run bomb to dead center in the 7th for the difference in the game. It was nice to see Vlad go yard for the first time against a non-position player in a month. He has been struggling this season and not putting up the numbers he usuaklly does. A sore wrist can't have helped.
- Here's hoping Danny Jansen is back soon. Alejandro Kirk needs a complete day off from catching. Catcher is the most physically demanding position and by not giving Kirk adequate rest, the Blue Jays risk him getting hurt too. When they traded away top prospect Gabriel Moreno, they traded away a potentially more reliable third catcher that could be recalled in case of injury.
- Up next, the Blue Jays return home for a week-long homestand that begins tomorrow night against the Astros, who took 2/3 back in Houston mid-April, outscoring the Blue Jays 19-7. Alek Manoah starts against Astros righty Brandon Bielak.
