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| Nathan Lukes drove in the winning run in a 3-2 win over the Cardinals |
After a solid win over the Cardinals on the backs of 7 strong innings from ace Jose Berrios and a 4-run rally in the 6th and Vlad's 500th career RBI, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and complete their 3rd series sweep of the season. Yariel Rodriguez got the start with Brian Serven behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Spencer Horwitz at 1B. George Springer got the complete day off with Addison Barger in RF. Nathan Lukes was in CF and Davis Schneider was in LF. Luis De Los Santos was at the hot corner and Leo Jimenez was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and complete their 3rd sweep of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Cardinals opened the scoring in the top of the 5th as Jordan Walker doubled scoring Ivan Herrera
- Yariel Rodriguez pitzhing line: 4.1IP3H 1R (earned) 1BB 2K 62 pitches (41 f or strikes)
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Davis Schneider whacked a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Spencer Horwitz
- Miles Mikolas pitching line: 5IP 3H 2R (both earned) 0BB 4K 72 pitches (54 for strikes)
- The Cardinals tied the game in the top of the 7th as Lars Nootbaar smacked a solo blast to right
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Nathan Lukes doubled scoring George Springer
- Chad Green pitched a scoreless 9th for his 17th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 3 Cardinals 2
My Take:
- Yariel Rodriguez battled through 4.1 innings, giving up a run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. Boy was Rodriguez hot on the bench at being pulled after throwing just 62 pitches. He retired 9 of the first 11 batters he faced. The Blue Jays are obviously being very careful with his usage in his final starts of the season with his last start either coming at the end of the road trip or the beginning of the final homestand. This is understandable with the Blue Jays having four pitchers already (Alek Manoah, Rickey Tiederman, Landen Maroudis and Brandon Barriera). The Blue Jays can ill-afford to lose another prospect pitcher to a long-term injury.
- The bullpen threw 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 3. Chad Green, who had blown three saves in a row, was shaky, giving up a pir of singles but he escaped the jam without allowing a run. Zack Pop was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced
- Offensively, Davis Schneider (2-run HR) and Nathan Lukes (RBI single) did rhe damage
- The Blue Jays were 0-4 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays start their final road trip of the season in Texas. They swept the Rangers at the end of July, ooutscoring the Rangers 20-11. Nathan Eovaldi starts for the Rangers. The Blue Jays haven't set their rotation for the series yet.
