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| Chris Bassit threw 8 strong innings in a losing effort as the A's walked off the Blue Jays by a score of 2-1 |
After a huge walk-off win over the Orioles, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games as they began their second venture to the west coast of the season and the final trip to the Oakland Coliseum with the A's making Sacramento their home until the stadium is ready in Las Vegas. The Blue Jays won the season series against the A's 4-2, outscoring the A's 38-20. The big news of the day is Cavan Biggio was DFA'd to make way for Spencer Horwitz, who has been ripping it up in AAA-ball. Son of Hall of famer Craig Biggio, Cavan Biggio was drafted in the 5th round of the 2016 MLB draft and was the 2nd of the big 3 Blue Jays prospects to graduate to the bigs in 2019, being recalled May 24th of that year and making his MLB debut that night (Vlad was recalled April 24 and Bo Bichette got the callup July 29). Biggio was batting .200 with 2HR and 9RBI over 110AB over 44 games this season. He finishes his time with the Blue Jays batting .227 with 48 HR and 176RBI over 6 seasons. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kevin Kiermaier got the start in CF. IKF and Ernie Clement swapped spots in the infield from yesterday's lineup with Clement at the hot corner and IKF getting the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The A's opened the scoring in the bottom of the 6th on a wild pitch by Chris Bassitt that scored Max Schuemann
- Hogan Harris pitching line: 6IP 3H 0R 2BB 3K 91 pitches (55 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the top of the 7th as Bo Bichette singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 8IP 4H 1R (earned) 2BB 7K 102 pitches (71 for strikes)
- The A's walked it off in the bottom of the 9th as JJ Bleday belted a solo jack to right
- Final score: A's 2 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt was excellent tonight, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 7 over 8 innings. He got out of a jam in the 2nd inning by inducing an MK special double-play. He then proceeded to retire 8 in a row, 10 straight outs if you include the double play. He made one mistake on a wild pitch on the only run he would allow. With the news that Alek Manoah's season is done with season-ending UCL surgery on the horizon, the Blue Jays are going to need the starters to eat some innings to save the bullpen
- Speaking of the bullpen, that has to be a record for shortest use of a bullpen - one pitch. Chad Green was taken yard on the first pitch he threw tonight to end the game. Here's hoping closer Jordan Romano makes a speedy recovery
- The offence was an RBI single by Bo Bichette in the 7th. Kevin Kiermaier made a horrible base running decision trying to stretch a single into a double and killed a potential rally. The top three hitters in the lineup were a combined 1-11 with one run scored (Vlad).
- The Blue Jays are 2 games with a scoreless 1st inning from tying the dubious record ford consecutive games of not scoring in the 1st inning. Tonight was the 29th consecutive game where they did not plate a run in the 1st inning
- Oakland Coliseum fun fact: Dave Winfield hit the last playoff HR for the Blue Jays in the 1992 ALCS.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Kevin Gausman starts against A's righty Luis Medina
