 |
| Cavan Biggio drove in a pair and scored twice in a losing effort as the Rangers came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 10-4 |
After a huge series sweep over tbe Royals thanks some clutch hits and a dominant Royals starter suddenly going wild, the Blue Jays started a crucial week in their schedule with the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox both on the schedule. The week began with a 4-game series vs. the Rangers, who won two of three in Texas back in mid-June, outscoring the Blue Jays 16-11. Erik Swanson was reinstated from the 10 day IL. Jay Jackson was optioned back to AAA- ball. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Daulton Varsho was back in LF after the compete day off yesterday. Cavan Biggio was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays make it four straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights
- The Rangers opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd on a disengagement violation by Chris Bassitt that scored Mitch Garver
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Davis Schneider
- Three batters later, George Sptinger singled scoring Cavan Biggio
- The Rangers tied the game in the top of the 3rd as Evan Carter hammered a solo bomb off the basing of the 3rd deck in right
- The Rangers retook the lead in the top of the 5th as Corey Seagar singled scoring Carter
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 6th on a wild pitch by Bassitt that scored Robbie Grossman
- Same batter, Jonah Heim doubled scoring Leody Tavares
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 5.1IP 9H 5R (all earned) 3BB 3K 101 pitches (60 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Biggio that scored Spencer Horwitz
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 7th on a sac fly by Grossman that scored Marcus Semien
- Two batters later, Heim drilled a grand slam to left-center; also scoring Seagar, Garver and Leody Tavares
- Dane Dunning pitching line: 6IP 6H 3R (all earned) 3BB 7K 102 pitches (68 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 9th as Biggio spanked a solo jack to right
- Final score: Rangers 10 Blue Jays 4
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt fired 5.1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. The first run against was on a mistake by Bassit when he made a disengagement violation. After the Blue Jays gave him a lead to work with, Bassitt immediately gave up a solo HR. He got into jams in the 5th and 6th innings, giving up a combined 3 runs. The notable stat is Bassitt threw 101 pitches. It boggles the mind that Schneider gives the righty starters so much leash when they struggles and seems to cap Yusei Kikuchi and Hyun-Jin Ryu at 80 pitches (ok maybe it makes sense to be more careful with Ryu since he only recently returned from TJ surgery)
- The bullpen had a rouggh day, giving up 5 runs (all in the 7th inning) on2 hits and 6 walks while sriking out 3 over the last 3.2 inningss. Genesis Cabrera has a particularly rough night, responsible for 4 of the runs on a grand slam and walked 3. He did retire 2 batters. Bowden Francis pitched the last 2.1 innings.
- Cavan Biggio did the damage for the Blue Jays offensively, driving in 2 runs and scoring once on a 9th inning solo HR.
- The Blue Jays were 3-8 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the WC race, the Rangers are tied with the Mariners for the final WC, pending the outcome of the Mariners game (they were tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 4th vs. the Angels). The Astros lost to the A's, but will still lead the AL west division title race regardless of the Mariners. Because the Mariners hold the tiebreaker over the Blue Jays, they would move back into the 2nd WC spot since they would be in a tie with the Blue Jays. The Red Sox, who had their game rained out, gained a half game and are 6 games back of the final WC spot.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even this crucial series. Hyun-Jin Ryu starts against Rangers righty and ace Max Scherzer, who has a career 4-3 record with a 2.48ERA in 11 starts against the Blue Jays
