Game #122 - Philadelphia Phillies (66-55) @ Toronto Blue Jays (67-55) - game recap

 

Cavan Biggio drove in a pair and scored once in a losing effort as the Phillies came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 9-4

After eking out a win yesterday when cavan Biggio took one for the team in a bases loaded hit by pitch, the Blue Jays were looking for their 7th series sweep and 3rd straight win. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The Blue Jays fielded the same lineup as last night.  Could the Blue Jays win their 3rd straight game and complete their 7th sweep? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Phillies opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd on a sac fly by Jake Cave that scored Nick Castellanos
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Daulton Varsho bashed a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Cavan Biggio
• The Phillies tied it up in the top of the 3rd as Bryce Harper drilled a solo jack to dead center
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Biggio singled scoring George Springer and Brandon Belt
• The Phillies got one back in the top of the 5th as Castellanos doubled scoring Kyle Schwarber 
• A batter later, Castellanos and Harper scored on a throwing error by Santiago Espinal on a ball hit by Bryson Stott
• The Phillies added a run in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Schwarber that scored JT Realmuto
• A batter later Alec Bohm singled scoring Cave
• Aaron Nola pitching line: 5IP 4H 4R (all scored) 4BB 7K 92 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Kevin Gausman pitching line 5.1IP 7H 7R (5 earned) 3BB 4K 84 pitches (60 for strikes)
• The Phillies added a run in the top of the 7th as Cave hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• The Phillies added a run in the top of the 9th as Harper drilled a solo blast to right-center
• Final score: Phillies 9 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman was lit up for 7 runs (5 earned thanks to avhorrible throwing error by Santiago Espinal that resulted in 2 runs scored on the play) on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4. Ironically, the Blue Jays actually gave him some run support, but sadly he did not have his best stuff tonight. Gausman was pitching in and out of trouble all night, including a bases loaded jam with none out in the 2nd inning. Gausman also took a comebacker off his leg in the 6th inning. He was ok and faced one more batter before being removed. 
• The bullpen gave up two runs on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 2 over the last 3.2 innings.  Tim Mayza allowed two inherited runners to score.  Genesis Cabrera and Erik Swanson were the only relievers to retire every batter they faced.  It is likely one or both of Jay Jackson and bowden Francis may have made their final appearance in the majors for a couple of months with Chad Green and Trevor Richards potentially returning Friday in Cincinnati. 
• Offensively, Cavan Biggio led the way, driving in 2 and scoring once. Daulton Varsho also went deep for two more runs. 
• The Blue Jays were 2-4 with runners in scoring position 
• In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays maintain control of the 3rd WC spot, but the Mariners gained a game on the Blue Jays after they defeated the Royals, cutting the lead to just 1 game. The Blue Jays are 3 games back of the Astros for the 2nd WC spot and 5.5 games back of the Rays for the 1st WC spot. The Red Sox are 3 games back of the Blue Jays for the final WC spot. The Blue Jays are 3rd in the AL East standings and 7.5 games back of the Orioles for the AL East division title.
• Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays head to Cincinnati for a weekend set with the Reds. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, outscoring the Reds 7-5. Jose Berrios will start for the Blue Jays. The Reds have not set their rotation for the weekend series yet.