| Justin Turner hit a pair of HR and drove in 3 runs in a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Royals |
After eking out a win yesterdaty on a 3-run 2nd inning, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games. Yariel Rodriguez got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after the half day off as DH yesterday (Justin Turner served as DH tonight). Bo Bichette got the complete day off with IKF at SS. Addison Barger was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins and avoid their 2nd season series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Royals opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Nelson Velazquez doubled scoring Bbby Witt Jr. Addison Barger was charged with a throwing error on the play
- A batter later, Michael Massey singled home Velazquez. A challenge confirmed the safe call at 1B
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Justin Turner belted a 2-run jack to left; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Turner hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- A batter later, Danny Jansen whacked a solo blast to left-center
- Jonathan Bowlan pitching line: 2.2IP 6H 4R (all earned) 3BB 3K 68 pitches (43 for strikes)
- The Royals got one back in the top of the 4th as Kyle Isbel singled scoring Freddy Fermin
- Yariel Rodriguez pitching line: 3.2IP 6H 3R (2 earned) 3BB 1K 82 ptches (50 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Davis Schneider singled scoring Daulton Varsho
- The Royals got one back in the top of the 6th as Isbel hammered a solo bomb to straightaway center
- Addison Barger got his first career hit in the bottom half of the inning
- Two batters later, Guerrero Jr. doubled home Barger
- The Royals got one back in the top of the 8th as Fermin whacked a solo jack to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- Nate Pearson threw a scoreless 9th for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Royals 5
My Take:
- Yarield Rodriguez battled through 3.2 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 1. He and Royals starter Jonathan Bowlan had pretty similar pitching lines tonight: YRod pitchedan extra inning, allowed 1 less run and 2 less earned runs and struck out 2 fewer batters. The Blue Jays are being very careful with Rodriguez, both in terms of a strict innings limit and also the experience of Alek Manoah, who is struggling to earn his way back on the big league roster
- The bullpen was shaky today, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 6 over the last 5.1 innings. Tim Mayza was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced
- The offene had it's best game in a while, scoring in 4 of the 8 innings. Justin Turner led the way with 3 RBI, and 2 HR, including a game-tying 2-run shot in the 1st inning.
- Every Blue Jays starter reached base and all but Cavan Biggio had at least one hit.
- The Blue Jays were 1-11 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and set up a rubber match Wednesday for the season series. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Royals lefty Cole Ragans
