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| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a pair of solo HR and scored three times in a 4-0 shutout win over the Rangers |
After a 2-0 loss yesterday after a poot showing from the offense which was unable to back up another strong start from Bowden Francis, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the two game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season. Bo Bichette's season has come to an end as he was placed on the 10 day IL with a right middle finger fracture. Jonatan Clase was recalled from AAA- ball. Kevin Gausman got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. George Springer got the complete day off with Nathan Lukes in RF. Vlad got the half day off with Spencer Horwitz at 1B. Ernie clement was at SS and Leo Jimenez was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2- game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season? Here is today's game recap
Game Highlights:
- The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd on a sac fly by Nathan Lukes that scored Addison Barger
- The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 3rd on a fielding error by Rangers 3B Ezequiel Duran on a ball hit by Leo Jimenez that scored Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Kumar Rocker pitching line: 3IP 2H 2R (1 earned) 4BB 5K 71 pitches (41 for strikes)
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5IP 0H 0R 1BB 6K 58 pitches (38 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Guerrero Jr. hammered a solo bomb to the 2nd deck in left
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Guerrero Jr. hammered a solo bomb to dead center
- Final score: Blue Jays 4 Rangers 0
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman threw 5 no-hit innings, walking 1 and striking out 6. He likely could have thrown a few more innings, but having the pitchers go into the off-season healthy is more important than chasing a no-hitter. Gausman's only blemish was a 1-out walk in the 5th inning. He retired the first 13 batters he faced. Gausman will get a final start in the last weekend of the season.
- The bullpen gave up 2 hits while walking none and striking out 4 over the last 4 innings. Genesis Cabrera gave up the hit that ruined the combined no-hit bid. Dillon Tate and Eric Swanson both retired every batter they faced
- Offensively it was the Vlad show. Arguably the team's best player this season hit a pair of solo home runs and scored three times. Nathan Lukes drove in the other run on a sac fly
- There has to be major concerns over the health of Bo Bichette, who fractured a finger on a ground ball during warm-ups yesterday. He ends his season batting .277 (first time he finished a season batting below .500) with 4HR and 31RBI over 81 games and 311AB. he literally missed half the season due to injury, the vast majority of that time to a calf injury that put him on the IL three times
- The Blue Jays need to go 8-1 in the last 9 games to avoid their first losing season since 2019. Stranger things have happened, but given the opponents they face (the Rays at Tropicana and the Red Sox, who must pretty much win out to steal the last WC spot) chances are slim to none, Plus, the Blue Jays have not won more than 5 games in a row.
- Up next, the Blue Jays head to Tampa Bay where they will finish the road portion of the schedule where they started the season. The Rays have won 6 of the first 10 games of the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 48-40. Jose Berrios starts against Rays lefty Tyler Alexander.
