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| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 1st inning 2-run HR in a losing effort as the Rangers came from behind to rout the Blue Jays 9-2 |
fter a terrible shutout loss to the Rangers yesterday, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 3- game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season. Matt Chapman was reinstated from the 10- day IL and was at the hot corner. Nathan Lukes was optioned to AAA-ball. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio in RF. Kevin Kiermaier was in CF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rangers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Corey Seagar smacked a solo blast to right-center
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Vladimir Guerrero Jr hammered a 2-run bomb to the second deck in left-center; also scoring Bo Bichette
- The Rangers retook the lead in the top of the 2nd as Seagar doubled scoring Ezequiel Duran and Marcus Semien
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 3rd as Jonah Heim belted a solo jack to straightaway center
- Nathan Eovaldi pitching line: 3.1IP 3H 2R (both earned) 3BB 3K 73 pitches (40 for strikes)
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 4.2IP 6H 4R (all earned) 6BB 5K 109 pitches (65 for strikes)
- The Rangers added a run in the top of the 8th as Semien doubled scoring Duran
- Two batters later, Nathaniel Lowe singled home Evan dCarter and Semien
- Two batters later, Seagar asked on a bases loaded walk to Robbie Grossman
- Two batters later, Lowe scored on a sac fly by Josh. H. Smith
- Final score: Rangers 9 Blue Jays 2
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman had a very trying outing, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 6 and striking out 5. At several points in the game, you could see Gausman visibly upset by some of the calls from home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski, who definitely had a tight strike zone. Perhaps he was calling some pitches balls merely because of Alejandro Kirk's bad habit of dramatically moving his glove back in the strike zone. The Rangers took Gausman deep twice and Corey Seagar had Gausman's number, n driving in three and going yard in the 1st inning. Next start won't be any easier against the Yankees in the Bronx, who, despite having a bad season, would love to help eliminate their division rivals.
- The bullpen gave up 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 4 over the last 4.1 innings. All 5 runs where charged to Trevor Richards, who allowed 3 hits and walks 2 and did not record an out. On the flip side, Tim Mayza was excellent, pitching 1.1 innings and retiring every batter he faced.
- Offensively, it was basically Vlad giving the Blue Jays a brief leads with a mammoth bomb to the second deck in left-center. Bo Bichette was the only Blue Jay to reach base multiple times.
- The Blue Jays were 0-5 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the idle Mariners and Astros both gained a half game on the Blue Jays,n who are now 1.5 games back of the Mariners for the final WC spot. The AL race just got interesting with the Rangersnow just s half game behind the Astros for 1st place in the AL west. Boston is hanging on by a thread, 7.5 games back of the final WC spot and 6 games back of the Blue Jays.
- Up next, the z Blue z Jays open a weekend set against the Red Sox, who have won 7 of the first 10 games of the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 57-54. Every series has embedded in a sweep. Will the trend continue? Jose Berrios starts against Red Sox righty Brayan Bello.
