| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 3-4 with 4RBI and 2 runs scored and finished a sungle shy of the cycle in a 7-6 win over the Orioles |
After a tough loss due to the bullpen coughing up another lead, the Blue Jays were looking to avoid their 20th series loss of the season. Genesis Cabrera was placed on the paternity leave. Tommy Nance, acquired from the Padres for cash considerations took his roster spot. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Addison Barger. Joey Loperfido was in LF. Vlad was back at 1B, Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Spencer Horwitz was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays avoid their 20th series loss? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring George Springer. The hit extended Guerrero Jr's hitting streak to 20 games
- Two batters later, Daulton Varsho scored on a balk charged to Dean Kremer
- Same batter, Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Guerrero Jr.
- The Orioles got a pair back in the bottom of the 3rd as Colton Cowley whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in left and into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Ramon Urias
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 5th as Guerrero Jr. Smacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right-center and into the Orioles bullpen; also scoring Varsho
- Dean Kremer pitching line: 4.1IP 4H 5R (all earned) 5BB 6K 96 pitches (60 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Varsho singled scoring Leo Jimenez
- A batter later, Guerrero Jr. tripled home Jimenez
- Kevin Gausman pitching line; 8IP 3H 2R (both earned) 3BB 2K 100 pitches (69 for strikes)
- The Orioles got one back in the top of the 9th as Ryan O'Hearn scored on a fielder's choice on a ball hit by Jackson Holliday
- A batter later, Cedric Mullins doubled scoring Ryan Mountcastle
- Two batters later, Cowley singled scoring Mullins and Holliday
- Chad Green got the last 3 outs for his 10th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 7 Orioles 6
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman pitched 8 strong innings, giving up a pair of runs on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. He retired the first 8 batters he faced and after walking a batter with one out in the 4th, Gausman retired 14 of the last 15 he faced. Gausman should be a candidate for the opening day start next year and if the 2025 season goes sideways, he should fetch a big return in a trade.
- The bullpen very nearly blew the lead. Zack Pop, who did not record an out, loaded the bases on 3 singles. Chad Green gave up a further 2 hits. The bullpen needs a major revamping in the off-season. At this point, Green, Branden Little and maybe Erik Swanson have strong holds on roles next year. Genesis Cabrera has also earned a chance.
- It was the Vladdty show again. The red-hot Blue Jays star not only extended his hit streak to 20 games in his first AB, driving in the opening run in the process, Vlad finished a single short of the cycle. Forget about plugging the holes in the lineup, the top priority has to be signing Vlad to a big 10 year deal. He's the one this team needs to be built around.
- Oh yeah and Daulton Varsho (2 RBI, 3 runs scored) and Alejandro Kirk (2RBI) had good days at the plate too
- The Blue Jays were 3-10 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays open their final series against the Oakland A's, who will be moving to Sacramento until the stadium is ready in their new home in Vegas in a couple of years. The Blue Jays took 2 of 3 from Oakland in their final visit there 2 months ago, outscoring the A's 14-6. Jose Berrios starts against A's righty Mitch Spence
