Game #122 - Toronto Blue Jays (57-65) @ Chicago Cubs (60-63) - game recap

 

George Springer hit a 2-run triple in a 6-5 extra innings loss to the Cubs

After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays continued the road trip at Wrigley Field against the north-siders, aka the Cubs. The Cubs took the season series 2-1 last year, but the Blue Jays outscored the Cubs 17-15. Yariel Rodriguez got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Joey Loperfido was in LF, Ernie Clement was at the hot corner, Leo Jimenez was at SS and Will Wagner got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Cubs opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Cody Bellinger hammered a 2-run bomb to right-center; also scoring Ian Happ
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 4th as Ernie Clement singled scoring Spencer Horwitz
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 5th as Leo Jimenez drilled a solo jack to dead center
• The Cubs retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Pete Crow-Armstrong hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• A batter later, Miguel Amaya hammered a solo bomb to straightaway center 
• Kyle Hendricks pitching line: 5IP 2H 2R (1 earned) 0BB 2K 82 pitches (55 for strikes)
• Yariel Rodiguez pitching line: 5IP 4H 4R (all earned) 2BB 5K 88 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Cubs added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Happ hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 9th on a balk by Hector Neris that forced in Will Wagner
• A batter later, George Springer tripled scoring Clement and Joey Loperfido
• The Cubs walked it off in the bottom of the 10th as Seiya Suzuki singled home Happ
• Final score: Cubs 6 Blue Jays 5 (10 innings)

My Take:

• Yariel Rodriguez battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits (3 HR) while walking 2 and striking out 5. As has been an issure for most of the pitching staff, Yariel Rodriguez could not keep the ball in the ball park. I still think Pete Walker needs to be part of the coaching staff overhaul. He's been there for a decade now and every coach has an expiry date where their messaging becomes stale or other teams figure out the tricks.
• The bullpen gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk over the last 4 innings. Chad Green failed to record an out in the 10th inning. Genesis Cabrera and Erik Swanson both retired every batter they faced.
• Kudos to the offense for the comeback. The Cubs handed them a run in the fourth inning with three unbelieveable errors by the infield - two tailor-made double plays were flubbed by Dansby Swanson (although one error was charged to Kyle Hendricks on a bad throw) and then Swanson made a horrible throw on a grounder where he had tons of time to throw across the diamond for the 3rd out. In the 9th, Springer took advantage of a balk that forcecd in a run and tripled to tie the game. The Blue Jays had no business tying the game, but the Cubs gifted them the chance with horrendous defense
• The Blue Jays were 3-12 with runners in scoring position
• Every Blue Jays starter except Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had at least one hit
• Not-so-fun fact: The Blue Jays have now lost 75 straight games where they were trailing by multiple runs in the 8th inning or later 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to avoid their 19th series loss of the season.Chris Bassitt starts against Cubs lefty Justin Steele