Game #10 - Toronto Blue Jays (4-6) @ New York Yankees (8-2) - game recap

 

Vladimmimr Guerrero Jr. scored a run and drove in a run in a losing effort as the Blue Jays fell to the Yankees 8-3

After a Valient effort last night that fell just short, the Blue Jays were looking for their first series win of the season. Bowden Francis got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.  George Springer got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Isiah Kiner-Falefa was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays end the road trip with their first series win of the season? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays took the lead in the top of the 3rd on a bases loaded walk to Alejandro Kirk that forced in George Springer
• The Yankees tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a bars bases loaded walk to Anthony rizzo that forced in Oswaldo Cabrera
• A batter later,  Giancarlo Stanton hammered a grand slam to the second deck in left; also scoring Rizzo, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge
• Bowden Francis pitching line: 3IP 2H 5R (all earned) 3BB 5K 77 pitches (44  for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th as Bo Bichette doubled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 
• Luis Gil pitching line: 4.1IP 2H 2R (both earned) 4BB 8K 95 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th on a fielder's choice hit by Springer that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa
• The Yankees added a run in the bottom half of the inning on a wild pitch by Trevor Richards that scored Anthony Volpe
• The Yankees added a run in the bottom of  the 8th as Cabrera singled scoring Volpe
• Two batters later, Cabrera scored on a sac fly by Soto
• Dennis Santana got the last 5 outs for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Yankees 8 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Bowden Francis cruised through the first 2 innings, striking out 4. He ran into trouble in the 3rd inning, loading the bases and then walking in a run.  Giancarlo Stanton then emptied the bases with a no-doubter to the second deck in left. Francis wasn't given the opportunity to pitch the next inning with the inept Blue Jays offense and not wanting to be too far behind. He should be grateful that Alek Manoah has a long way to go. Manoah had his first game action since he didn't bounce back physically after his only spring training appearance.  Manoah walked the first 4 batters he faced today and gave up seven runs.  Could the Blue Jays opt for a bullpen day when the fifth starter is due to pitch?
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on  6 hits, a wild pitch, 4 walks and 3 strikeouts over the last 5 innings. They can't be giving up insurance runs when the offence is struggling to scrape together runs
• I don't even know what to say. Last season was a struggle to drive in runners with scoring position. This season seems worse. It feels like a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. Aside from not noticeably upgrading the lineup, the Blue Jays opted to restructure their coaching staff, keeping Guillermo Martinez as hitting coach and expanding Don Mattingly's role to include offensive coordinator. When the top 4 hitters in your lineup (George Springer, Vlad, Bo and Alejandro Kirk) are hitting below .200, you're going to struggle to be in games. It's looking early on like GM Ross Atkins made a huge miscalculation that last season's struggles were an anomaly. Having so much information coming at you with the many coaches can't help things. Bo Bichette's struggles are most concerning, since he has been the Blue Jays most consistent hitter since he came up to the bigs in 2019.
• Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider were a combined 0-5. Schneider certainly had a hot streak last season, but there's a reason why he was a career minor leaguer.
• Up next, the Blue Jays open the home portion of their schedule against their expansion cousins, the Seattle Mariners. The Blue Jays and Mariners split the season series with the Mariners outscoring the Blue Jays 27-26. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Mariners righty and ace Luis Castillo.