| Yusei Kikuchi threw 7 strong innings in a 12-1 rout over the A's |
After doubling upon the A's yesterday thanks to a pair of 2-run jacks from Vlad and Danny Jansen, the Blue Jays were going for two straight wins and Gerrit 15th series win of the seam. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio in RF. Kevin Kiermaier was in CF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to two games and notch their 15th series win of the seam? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as George Springer led off with a solo blast to left-center
- Three batters later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single scoring Whit Merrifield
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd on a double play ball hit by Springer that scored Santiago Espinal
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd on a wild pitch by Luis Medina that scored Matt Chapman
- The A's got one back in the top of the 6th as Tony Kemp smacked a solo blast to right
- Luis Medina pitching line: 5IP 4H 4R (3 earned) 7BB 4K 90 pitches (47 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Springer that scored Kevin Kiermaier
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottm of the 7th on a ground rule double by Espinal that scored Bo Bichette and Guerrero Jr.
- Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 7IP 2H 1R (earned) 2BB 8K 101 pitches (63 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Bichette singled scoring Danny Jansen
- A batter later, Springer scored on a fielder's choice hit by Guerrero Jr.
- Two batters later, Biggio drilled a 3-run bomb off the basing of the second deck; also scoring Guerrero Jr. and Chapman
- Final score: Blue Jays 12 A's 1
My Take:
- Yusei Kikuchi fired 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8. He retired 15 of the first 17 batters he faced and six of the last 8. Kikuchi has been one of the better 5th starters the Blue Jays have had in recent years and is starting to prove he is worth the contract he signed 2 years ago.
- The bullpen gave up a hit and a wallk while striking out 1 over the last 2 innings
- The bats were on big time today, with the Blue Jays scoring in 6 og 8 possible innings. George Springer started things off with a bang and a leadoff HR (he scored twice and drove in 2 runs), Vlad scored twice and drove in a run, Cavan Biggio capped off the scoring with a mammoth 3-run jack
- Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once and all but Whit Merrifield and Matt Chapman had at least one hit
- Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays continue the home stand with a three game set against the San Francisco Giants. In 2019, the Giants won the season series 3-1 and outscored the Blue Jays 18-16. Neither team has set their rotation for the series.
