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| Jose Berrios threw 6.2 shutout innings in a 5-2 win over their expansion cousins, the Seattle Mariners in their2024 home opener at the newly renovated Rogers' Centre |
After a tough ten game road trip that saw a mostly subpar offence, 2 series losses and a miraculous series split, the Blue Jays limped home to begin the home portion of their schedule against expansion cousins Seattle Mariners. The Blue Jays come home to the completed renovation project that included improved menu items, more comfortable seats with cup holders and more. The players will have a better training facility and family/friends of the players will see an improved place to hang out while their spouses/fathers play ball. The Mariners and Blue Jays split the season series with the Mariners outscoring the Blue Jays 27-26. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (Justin Turner served as DH tonight). Davis Schneider was in LF. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was at the hot corner and Cavan Biggio was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the two game skid and start the home portion of the schedule with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Justin Turner
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Davis Schneider singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Bo Bichette
- The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Guerrero Jr singled scoring Kevin Kiermaier
- Luis Castillo pitching line: 5IP 9H 4R (all earned) 1BB 6K 101 pitches (70 for strikes)
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 6.2IP 4H 0R 1BB 6K 101 pitches (72 for strikes)
- The Mariners got one back in the top of the 8th as JP Crawford hit a moonshot to the second deck in right
- The Mariners got one back in the top of the 9th as Cal Raleigh hammered a solo bom to right
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Mariners 2
My Take:
- Both starting pitchers had a lot of similarities in their pitching lines tonight. Both threw 101 pitches (Berrios threw two more strikes), both walked 1 batter and both struck out 6. The difference was Jose Berrios was more efficient and threw 1.2 more innings. Berrios also gave up 5 fewer hits and four fewer runs. There had to be some concern about how Berrios would pitch given he imploded 2 years ago in the Blue Jays home opener and didn't even get out of the 1st inning of that start. Berrios showed a lot of maturity tonight and was solid
- The bullpen gave up 2 runs on three hits (two of them being solo HR) while walking one and striking out 4 over the last 2.1 innings. The team is definitely missing closer Jordan Romano and setup man Erik Swanson
- Offensively, the Blue Jays got a key clutch 2-run hit off the bat of Davis Schneider (will he finally be awarded for a good game by being in the lineup tomorrow?)
- good to see Vlad come through with an RBI and run scored, especially since yours truly has him on her fantasy team
- The key stat of the night: the Blue Jays were 4-13 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for their first series win of the season and their first multi-game winning streak. Chris Bassitt starts against Mariners righty George Kirby
