| Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a pair of solo HR in a losing effort as the Guardians came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 6-3 |
After an ugly loss yesterday after a brutal 7-run inning from the Guardians, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 4 game skid and avoid their 12th series loss of the season. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Spencer Horwitz at 1B. Kevin Kiermaier was in CF and Daulton Varsho was in LF. Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid and avoid their 12th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as avis Schneider whaked a solo blast to the opposite field in right-center
- The Guardians took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Bo Naylor hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Will Brennan
- The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 3rd as Isiah Kiner-Falefa drilled a solo jack to left-center
- The Guardians retook the lead in the bottomm half of the inning as Jose Ramirez belted a 2-run bomb to right; also scoring Andres Gimenez
- The Guardians added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Steven Kwan hammered a solo bomb to right
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 5IP 6H 5R (all earned) 1BB 3K 86 pitches (54 for strikes)
- Ben Lively pitching line: 5.2IP 3H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 82 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Guardians added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Daniel Schneemann drilled a solo bomb to right-center
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 8th as Kiner-Falefa whacked a solo blast to left
- Daulton Varsho was injured in the top of the 9th as he was trying to start running after hitting a ground ball. He was grabbing his lower back. Likely an IL-stint incoming
- Emmanuel Clase pitched a perfect 9th for his 23rd save of the season
- Final score: Guardians 6 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- It was a rough start for Jose Berrios, who gave up 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3 over 5 innings. He was taken deep 3 times for 5 runs and twice he was scored on the same inning the Blue Jays scored. The way the offense is, the team needs the pitchers to be lights out most games and tonight Berrios wasn't up to the task.
- Genesis Cabrera gave up a run on 2 hits in the 6th. Brendon Little and Nate Pearson both retired every batter they faced. It will be closer by committee indefiniely with Jordan Romano experiencing more elbow pain in long toss. He'll inevitably be shut down from throwing and could be looking at another MRI. Here's hoping it's not the same end result as Alek Manoah
- All nine runs by both teams were scored on home runs.
- It's pretty hard to win ball games when you produce four bases runners. solo home runs aren't going to cut it
- It's time to hang up the home run jacket for good. Just makes the team look like a bunch of fools when they are flaunting with it in the dugout after a home run when they are losing
- Here's hoping the Daulton Varsho injury isn't serious. Can we get Cavan Biggio back to play RF?
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 5 game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd consecutive series. Yusei Kikuchi starts against Guardians righty Tristan McKenzie
