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| Spencer Horwitz drove in a pair of runs in a 5-3 loss to the Astros |
After a blowout loss yesterday after the bullpen imploded the Blue Jays were trying to end the homestand with a win and avoid their 12th series loss of the season (Houston clinched the season series win yesterday). Danny Jansen was reinstated from the paternity leave list and Brian Serven was optioned back to AAA-ball. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette was a late scratch due to a sore forearm from getting hit by a pitch while striking out. George Springer was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (Danny Jansen served as DH tonight). Kevin Kiermaier was in CF. Could the Blue Jays end the homestand on a winning note and avoid their 12th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Astros opened the scoring in the top of the 1st pn a groundout hit by Yainer Diaz that scored Jose Altuve
- A batter later, Jon Singleton singled home Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Spencer Horwitz singled scoring George Springer and Danny Jansen
- A batter later, Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Davis Schneider
- The Astros added a run in the top of the 5th as Mauricio Dubon singled scoring Jeremy Pena
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 5IP 8H 4R (all earned) 4BB 3K 105 pitches (66 for strikes)
- Framber Valdez pitching line: 6IP 9H 3R (all earned) 2BB 4K 90 pitches (55 for strikes)
- The Astros added a run in the top of the 7th as Pena hammered a solo bomb to left
- Josh Hader threw a scoreless 9th for his 14th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Mariners 3
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits while walking 4 and striking out 4. Bassitt had a rough opening inning, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. After allowing a further 2 hits in the 2nd inning, Bassitt settled down and retired 5 in a row. Not a terribly efficient start with him needing 105 pitches to complete 5 innings
- The bullpen gave up back-breaking insurance run in the 7th with Jeremy Pena going yard off Trevor Richards. Genesis Cabrera was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced
- And then there was the offence, which produced 3 runs in the 1st inning, and grounded into 5 double plays, including in the 9th inning. Spencer Horwitz (2RBI) and Alejandro Kirk drove in the 3 runs
- Leo Jimenez drew a walk and made one play defensivly in his big league debut
- Every Blue Jays starter except Ernie Clement and Kevin Kiermaier reached base at least once and all but Jimenez, Clement and Kiermaier had at least one hit
- The Blue Jays were 3-9 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays begin a 9-game west coast swing that begins tomorrow night in Seattle. The Blue Jays took 2 of 3 from the Mariners back in April to open the home portion of the 2024 schedule. Both teams scored 11 times. Kevin Gausman starts against Mariners righty Luis Castillo
