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| Brandon Belt had both Blue Jays hits in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Yankees |
After dropping one late yesterday, the Blue Jays were looking to even both the series and season series tonight. Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Whit Merrifield was in LF and the rest of the lineup was the same as last night. Could the Blue Jays even the series and set up a runner match for basing rights next season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Aaron Judge hammered a 2-run bomb to the opposite field to right and into the Yankees bullpen; also scoring DJ LeMahieu
- The Yankees added a pair of runs in the top of the 5th as Giancarlo Stanton singled scoring judge and Ben Rortvedt
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 6IP 5H 4R (all earned) 3BB 10K 89 pitches (52 for strikes)
- The Yankees added a pair of runs in the 4th as Judge annihilated a 2-run bomb to the second deck in left-center
- Gerrit Cole pitching line: 9IP 2H 0R 0BB 5K 105 pitches (72 for strikes)
- Final score: Yankees 6 Blue Jays 0
My Take:
- Jose Berrios threw 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out a season-high 10 batters. Aaron judge was really the only batter to do any damage to him, cruising the first of his two 2-run bombs off the Blue Jays righty and then a further two runs resulted from essentially pitching around him. While Judge was walked, Judge scored on a singled by Giancarlo Stanton with the bases loaded. Berrios retired the first 9 batters he faced. A solid comeback season by him.
- The bullpen, specifically Trevor Richards gave up Judge's second 2- run bomb of the game that really ended any chance of a comeback. None of the relievers retired every batter faced.
- The offense? What offense? The Blue Jays managed exactly two hits of Yankees ace and likely Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, who went the distance and looked like he barely broke a sweat. Brandon Belt got both hits. Everyone else was 0-fer.
- The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Mariners and Astros gained a half game before their game even began. Texas is looking to avoid a series sweep to the Angels and have a 2.5 game lead for the AL west division title over the Astros, 3 games over the Mariners. If the Mariners win they will be tied for the last wild card spot, but hold the tiebreaker over both the Blue Jays and Astros. If the Astros won tonight, they will be a half game back of the 2nd wild card spot behind the Blue Jays, who hold the tiebreaker over the Astros after winning the season series. An Astros win would also put the Mariners a game back of the last wild card spot.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time this season. Chris Bassitt starts against Yankees righty Luke Weaver.
