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| Cavan Biggio drove in a run and scored a run in a 6-3 loss to the Rangers |
After a loss to the Rangers thanks to rough outings from Chris Bassitt and Genesis Cabrera, the Blue Jays were looking to even this crucial series. Brandon Belt was placed on the 10 day IL with Kumar spine muscle spasms. Nathan Lukes was recalled from AAA- ball. Hyun-Jin Ryu got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Spencer Horwitz at 1B. Could the Blue Jays even the series against the Rangers? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rangers opened the scoring in the top of the 5th as Robbie Grossman smacked a 2-run blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Corey Seagar
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Jonah Heim that scored Seagar
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 5.1IP 3H 0R 1BB 2K 73 pitches (49 for strikes) (left early to a triceps cramp)
- Hyun-Jin Ryu pitching line: 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 5K 82 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 7th as Josh H. Smith doubled scoring Leody Taveras
- Two batters later, Seagar doubled home Smith
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Cavan Biggio singled scoring Spencer Horwitz
- Two batters later, Biggio scored on a ground out hit by Ernie Clement
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 9th as Travis Jankowski singled scoring Evan Carter
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Davis Schneider belted a solo jack to left-center
- Final score: Rangers 6 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Hyun-Jin Ryu threw 6 solid innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5. In arguably his stiffest test since he returned from Tommy John surgery, Ryu gave a valiant effort, more or less matching Max Scherzer pitch for pitch through the 1st three innings, before he was taken yard for two runs by Robbie Grossman. He gave up a 3rd run on a sacf ly in the 6th. It was the first quality start of the season for Ryu, who was pulled after juat 82 pitches, as manager John Schneider continues to not trust the lefties to pitch deeper into games. The question is will he want a third lefty in the bullpen should the Blue Jays make the playoffs?
- Speaking of the bullpen, they gave up three extra runs in the last three innings that ended up being the difference in the game. Two of the runs were charged to Yimi Garcia, who has struggled at times this season, and one run was charged to Trevor Richards, who hasn't been the same since coming off the IL. Erik Swanson, making his first appearance since coming off the IL yeaterday, was excellent, pitching a perfect inning on just 12 pitches.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays did their damage after Max Scherzer left with a triceps cramp. They rallied for two runs in the 7th and Davis Schneider took closer Aroldis Chapman yard. Both Biggio and Schneider were 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
- The Blue Jays were 1-6 with runners in scoring position
- With the win, the Rangers have clinched the season series and now hold the tiebreaker for a playoff spot. The Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker against the Astros, but at the moment that is moot since the Astros lead the AL West by a game. The Mariners better intradivision record), Red Sox (won season series) and now the Rangers would all qualify for the playoffs ahead of the Blue Jays should the seasom end and the Blue Jays are tied with any of the aforementioned teams, except the Astros.
- In terms of the wild card race, for the moment, the Blue Jays are in the 3rd WC spot, but are likely to be tied with the Mariners at the end of the night since Seattle is spanking the Angel 7-0 in the top of the 5th at the release of this recap. The Astros lost to the A's so their hold on the AL West divison title is a game over the Rangers and 2 games over the Mariners (before the game ended). The Red Sox, meanwhile, lost both games of the double header tonight, and are now 7 games back of the last WC spot and will need a HUGE final 17 stretch, including sweeping the three game season, and get help from other teams to grab that last WC spot.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid. Yusei Kikuchi starts against Rangers lefty Jordan Montgomery
