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| Kevin Gausman threw seven shutout innings in a 6-1 win over the Yankees |
After a convincing win over the Yankees last night, the Blue Jays were going for their 5th straight win and 28th series win of the season. Ernie Clement was optioned to AAA-ball and Mason Mccoy was DFA'd. Cam Eden was recalled from AAA-ball. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was given the compete day off as he deals with a sore knee culminating from the stresses of the season. Spencer Horwitz served as DH and Cavan Biggio started for thy second straight day at 1B. Whit Merrifield got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 5 games and notch their 28th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- Aaron Boone was ejected in the 2nd inning for arguing balls and strikes
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Bo Bichette singled scoring Kevin Kiermaier
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 3K 0R 3BB 10K 104 pitches (63 for strikes)
- Michael King pitching line: 7IP 5H 1R (earned) 0BB 13K 101 pitches (75 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th on a bars loaded walk to Spencer Horwitz that forced in George Springer
- A batter later, Cavan Biggio was forced in by a bases loaded walk to Whit Merrifield
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Bichette singled home Kiermaier
- Three batters later, Horwitz singled scoring Springer and Bichette
- The Yankees got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Austin Wells hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in right
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Yankees 1
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman fired 7 shutout innings, scattering 3 hits, walking 3 and striking out 10. This was a much better start than the last one where he was this close to getting tossed due to his frustration over the umpire squeezing him. He hit a new career high for a single season with 232 strikeouts. Simply put, Gausman should get some votes for the Cy Young award since his record is skewed by the lack of run support he's gotten all year. Also, Gausman will likely get the nod as the starter in the first wild card game, should the Blue Jays make the playoffs. He's been the Blue Jays best pitcher all year.
- The bullpen gave up a run on 2 hits while striking out 4 and walking none over the last 3 innings. Both hits and the run were charged to Erik Swanson.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays struggled to do much of anything off Yankees starter Michael King. However, they did a lot of damage to the Yankees bullpen, turning a squeaker into a laugher, scoring 5 times on 4 hits and 6 walks over the last two innings. Tommy Kahnle and Ian Hamilton were missing so badly that even the free-swinging Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would have kept the bat on his shoulder.
- Bo Bichette (2RBI and a run scored), Spencer Horwitz (3RBI) and George Springer (2 runs scored) and Kevin Kiermaier (2 runs scored) led the charge offensively
- Every Blue Jays starter except Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho reached base at least once
- The Blue Jays were 4-12 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Astros, Rangers and Mariners all won today, so the standings remain as they were at the end of the night last night with the Houston leading Texas and Seatlle by a half game for the AL West division title. The Blue Jays in the 2nd WC spot, a game up on Seattle and Texas.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 6 games and to complete their 11th series sweep (and 2nd straight series sweep of the season. Jose Berrios starts against Yankees righty and ace Gerritt Cole,
