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| Chris Bassitt threw 8 shutout innings in a 7-0 shutout win over the Nationals |
After a heartbreaking loss when a 9th inning rally fell short, the Blue Jays were looking to end the homestand on a winning note and notch their 24th series win and 14th season series win of the season. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer got the half day off with Cavan Biggio in RF. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Whit Merrifield was in LF. Could the Blue Jays end the homestand with a win and notch their 24th series wina nd 14th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Alejandro Kirk doubled scoring Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr,
- The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Santiago Espinal singled scoring Kirk
- A batter later, Ernie Clement scored on a sac fly by Cavan Biggio
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Clement singled home Kirk
- A batter later, Espinal singled home Daulton Varsho
- Patrick Corbin pitching line: 6IP 10H 6R (all earned) 1BB 5K 96 pitches (60 for strikes)
- The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th on a sac fly by Kirk that scored Schneider
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 8IP 3H 0R 1BB 3K 110 pitches (71 for strikes)
- Final score: Blue Jays 7 Nationals 0
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt threw 8 excellent shutout innings, scattering 3 hits, walking 1 batter and striking out 2. The Blue Jays needed Bassitt to pitch deep in the game today with the bullpen running on fumes after a turn through the 5-man rotation resulted in the bullpen pitching half the game on most nights. Also, after tomorrow's off day, the Blue Jays start a weekend series in the high altitude of Denver Colorado. After allowing a 2-outv single in the 1st inning, Bassitt retired 8 in a row. He even picked off a baserunner.
- Jay Jackson pitched the 9th and gave up a pair of hits. Could he be coming back down to earth after pitching so well all season?
- The unexpected heroes came through today (Ernie Clement drove in s run and scored a run, Santiago Espinal drove in a pair and Cavan Biggio drove in one run). Alejandro Kirk drove b in three runs as well
- Davis Schneider continues to impress. He scored twice and drew 2 walks.
- The Blue Jays were 5-13 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays got mixed results. Houston and Seattle both won, while the Rangers lost in extra innings. It's looking more and more like the wild card race will be between Seattle, Houston, Texas and of course the Blue Jays. With today's loss, the Red Sox are now 6.5 games back of the last playoff spot. Also, the AL West division title is very much all in play with just 1 game separating Houston, Texas and Seattle. Those three teams face each other. The Blue Jays have a crucial 4-game series against Texas in mid-September and, God willing, Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman and Erik Swanson will have been activated from the IL. Chad Green should also be ready to pitch then, barring a setback.
- Up next, after an off day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays head to Colorado for a weekend series against the Rockies. In 2019, the Rockies swept the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 22-9. Hyun-Jin Ryu starts against Rockies righty Chris Flexen
