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| Nathan Lukes hit his first career HR in an 8-1 loss to the Marlins |
After a blowout loss yesterday thanks to a bad day of pitching, the lue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 27th series loss of the season and 19th season series loss of the season. Lefty Easton Lucas was optioned to the spring training complex and righty Nick Robertson was recalled from AAA-ball. Yariel Rodriguez got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Spencer Horwitz at 1B. Joey Loperfido got the start in CF. Davis Schneider was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 27th series loss and 19th season series loss? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Marlins opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Jonah Bride singled scoring Xavier Edwards\
- A batter later, Griffin Conine doubled scoring Jesus Sanchez
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Nathan Lukes smacked a solo blast to right. It was his first career HR
- The Marlins added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Dane Myers doubled scoring Jake Burger and Sanchez
- Two batters later, Jhonny Perada singled home Conine. Myers was thrown out at home on the play.
- Yariel Rodriguez pitching line: 4H 3R (all earned) 2BB 5K 82 pitches (54 for strikes)
- Xzavion Curry pitching line: 5IP 2H 1R (earned) 1BB 1K 65 pitches (42 for strikes)
- The Marlins added 3 runs in the top of the 8th as Myers hammered a 3-run bomb just over the wall in straightaway center; also scoring Sanchez and Conine
- Final score: Marlins 8 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- Yariel Rodriguez pitched into the 6th inning, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 6, He had a rough 1st inning, needing 30 pitches to get through it and he put the Blue Jays 2 runs down. It looked like his season might end on an injury removal when Jose Minstrel noticed somthing in warm-ups prior to the 4th inning. Luckily he was ok to continue and had an out streak of 12 outs. Rodriguez finished the 2024 season with a 1-8 record and a 4.47ERA in 21 starts.
- The bullpen gave up a further three runs (all charged to Genesis Cabrera on a 3-run HR he gave up). Nick Robertson was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced
- Offensively, the lone highlight was Nathan Lukes belting his first career HR to halve the deficit. George Springer was the only Blue Jay to reach base multiple times and Ernie Clement got the other hit. Vlad remains a hit shy of 200.
- The Blue Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the last game of the season. The Blue Jays try to snap the 2 game skid, avoid being swept for the 4th time and avoid being swept in a season series for the only time this season and end the season on a winning note. It will be a bullpen game for the Blue Jays, who decided not to start Chris Bassitt, who was set to make the start. The Marlins will counter with lefty Ryan Weathers
