Game #62 - Baltimore Orioles (39-22) @ Toronto Blue Jays (30-32) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 3-run HR as the Blue Jays hung on to edge the Orioles 6-5

After a huge walk-off win thanks to a clutch hit from IKF, the Blue Jays were looking to make it two straight wins and earn the series split against the Orioles. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Davis Schneider was in LF. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins over the Orioles and escape the series with a series split? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero jr. whacked a 3-run blast to the opposite field in right; also scoring Danny Jansen and Ernie Clement
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Isiah Kiner Falefa singled scoring Daulton Varsho
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 6th as Adley Rutschmann belted a solo jack to left-center
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning as Clement singled scoring Justin Turner and Varsho
• Cade Povich pitching line: 6.1IP 5H 6R (all earned) 4BB 2K 100 pitches (58 for strikes)
• Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 6K 89 pitches (60 for strikes)
• The Orioles got a pair back in the top of the 8th a Rutschman whacked a 2- run blast to the opposite field in right- center: also scoring Jordan Westburg
• The Orioles got a pair back in the top of the 9th as Ryan O'Hearn hammered a 2- run bomb to right-center; also scoring Austin Hays
• Yimi Garcia got the last 3 outs for his 4th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Orioles 5

My Take:

• Yusei Kikuchi fired 6 strong innings,  giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6. He was able to make pitches to escape jams and generally stayed away from any serious threats, other than the 1st inning where he dealt with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. He's still a contender to be an all star this season. 
• It feels like no lead is safe this season with the bullpen, which is missing closer Jordan Romano. Today, the bullpen nearly blew a 4-run lead. Zach Pop and Yimi Garcia both coughed up 2-run HR. Nate Pearson was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced. Ross Atkins was banking on the pitching being as strong as it was last season. It hasn't turned out that way so far and the Blue Jays can't really afford to fall much further back in the standings. 
• Offensively, Vlad led the way with a 3- run HR. Ernie Clement drove in a pair and scored on vlad's HR
• Who should be the leadoff hitter? Davis Schneider was 0-4 today. George Springer, who has led off pretty much his entire time in Toronto until recently, was also 0-4
• The Blue Jays were 3-4 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays head west to take on the Oakland A's in what will be their final visit to the Oakland Coliseum with the A's temporarily playing out of Sacramento until their new home in Las Vegas is ready. Since this will be a historic series, I will post a fun fact about the coliseum and Blue Jays each day, starting with this recap. The Blue jays all-time record at the coliseum is 109-120. The Blue Jays won the season series against the A's 4-2, outscoring the A's 38-20. Chris Bassitt starts against A's righty Hogan Harris