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| Davis Schneidrr hit a solo HR to lift the Blue Jays to a 4-3 win over the Reds |
After a heartbreaking 1-0 walk off loss to the Red, the Blue Jays were trying to snap the 2- game skid and avoid their 15th series loss and 7th season series loss of the season. Bo Bichette was reinstate from the 15-day IL and got the start at SS. Paul DeJong was DFA'd. DeJong had a disappointing and brief stint as a Blue Jay, accumulating just 3 hits in 44AB, driving in 1 run and scoring once. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Whit Merrifield was in LF. Santiago Espinal got the start at 2B. Davis Schneider served as DH. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and prevent their 15th series loss and 7th season series loss? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Cavan Biggio
- A batter later, Whit Merrifield singled scoring Santiago Espinal
- A batter after that, Bo Bichette singled home Varsho
- The Reds got one back in the bottom half of the inning as TJ Friedl smacked a solo blast to right-center
- Two batters later, Elly De La Cruz tripled scoring Matt McLain. De La Cruz scored on the throwing error by Biggio
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 5th as Davis Schneider bashed a solo jack to left-center
- Brandon Williamson pitching line: 5.2IP 9H 4R (all earned) 1BB 6K 101 pitches (66 for strikes)
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 6IP 3H 3R (2 earned) 1BB 6K 79 pitches (56 for strikes)
- Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless 9th for his 30th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 4 Reds 3
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt fired 6 solid innings before becoming another early hook John Schneider. Bassitt was cruising other than the 3rd inning where the Reds erased a 3-0 deficit in short order via a solo jack and a triple plus throwing error. After Davis Schneider restored the lead with his own solo jack, Bassitt shut the Reds down, retiring 6 of 7. Yes, the Blue Jays have had two off- days this week and have another one Monday, but let your starting pitcher pitch if he is cruising. Have a reliever warning up in case Bassitt falters, but let him at least start the 7th inning.
- The bullpen certainly had Blue Jays fans biting their nails tonight. After Trevor Richards gave up two straight singles, Tim Mayza nearly got out of the inning with a tailor made double play ball that Bo Bichette took a second to get control of - which was just enough time for Henry Ramos to beat the relay throw to 1st. Then Mayza walked a batter to load the bases. After Jordan Hicks pitched a flawless 8th, the other Jordan - closer Romano - walked fellow Canuck legend Joey Votto on four pitches then a single to the next batter before retiring the next three batters to end the game, but not before a double steal to put the winning run on second and a potential base hit to walk it off for the second night in a row,
- Offensively, the Blue Jays rallied for 3 runs on 4 his and a walk in the 4th inning, just two innings after the aforementioned Votto robbed Whit Merrifield of a likely multi run base hit with the bases loaded. Davis Schneider played hero with a solo jack that proved to be the difference in the ball game. The Blue jays squandered an opportunity to drive in an insurance run in the 8th with Matt Chapman striking out to end the inning.
- The Blue jays were 4-7 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Red Sox won big over the Yankees and the Mariners had a sizable lead over the Astros and looked like they were going to maintain their hold on the final wild card spot.
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 2nd straight win, 23rd series win and 13th season series win of the season. Hyun-Jin Ryu starts against Reds righty Hunter Greene
