| Davis Schneider hit a walk-off 2-run HR in the bottom of the 14th inning in a 5-3 comeback win over the Pirates |
After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays started a homestand against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Blue Jays swept the Pirates in the season series last year, outscoring the Pirates 22-3. The Blue Jays traded for righty Ryan Burr from the Phillies for cash considerations. He was added to the active roster with Alek Manoah, who didn't get great news on his elbow injury, but is seeking a second opinion, and was placed on the 15-day IL. Righty Joel Kuhnel was DFA'd. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after a half-day off as DH Wednesday (Justin Turner served as DH tonight). Davis Schneider was in LF and IKF got the start at 2B. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Pirates opened the scoring in the top of the 5th as Andrew McCutchen singled scoring Nick Gonzales
- Bailey Falter pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 2BB 5K 81 pitches (56 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom of the 7th as Daniel Vogelbach doubled scoring George Springer
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 7IP 6H 1R (earned) 0BB 5K 101 pitches (69 for strikes)
- The Pirates took the lead in the top of the 11th on a sac fly by Bryan Reynolds that scored Ji Hwan Bae
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Springer singled scoring Danny Jansen
- The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Kevin Kiermaier that scored Cavan Biggio
- The Blue Jays walked it off in the bottom of the 10th as Davis Schneider smashed a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right-center; also scoring Biggio
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Pirates 3 (14 innings)
My Take:
- Jose Berrios was excellent tonight, firing 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 6 hits while walking none and striking out 5. He retired 8 in a row at one point and the last 4 batters he faced. He was battling all night and deserved to win.
- The bullpen held it's own and came through when it counted. The Blue Jays got two scoreless innings from Chad Green and Yimi Garcia to send the game to extra innings. Nate Pearson and Tim Mayza both gave up go ahead runs, that were answered in the bottom half of the inning. Genesis Cabrera, who was credited with the win, got 5 outs and 2 key stops that gave the Blue Jays a chance to walk it off
- Offensively, the team didn't do much in regulation and quite frankly got fortunate when Pirates CF lost a fly ball in the lights on the game tying run. Kudos to the offence for coming back twice in extra innings to keep the game going. George Springer is starting to look like he did at the beginning of the contract he signed in 2021. He drove in a run and scored a run. It was the bat of Davis Schneider that won this marathon, going deep with 2 outs in the 14th inning.
- The city connect uniforms are pretty slick - nice touch with the Canadian flag on the baseball caps
- Bad timing on the Alek Manoah injury. The Blue Jays don't get an off-day until June 13th. It will likely be a bullpen day for a couple of turns.\
- Could Danny Jansen and Vlad both rep the Blue Jays at the all-star game? Both have easily been the team's best hitters lately
- Despite three run-scoring innings, the Blue Jays were an abysmal 2-19 with runners in scoring position. If they are still below .500 in a month, maybe we see some changes to the coaching staff
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 5th straight win, 7th series win and 4th season series win. Yusei Kikuchi starts against Pirates righty Mitch Keller
