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| Bo Bichette was 4-4 with 2 runs scored in a 9-5 loss to the Orioles |
After both teams traded blowout wins, the Blue Jays were looking to take the series lead. Veteran Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF and Anthony Santander was in RF. Will Wagner served as DH. George Springer got the complete day off. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner
Game Highlights:
- The Orioles opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Colton Cowser led off the game with a solo bomb to dead center
- Three batters later, Jordan Westburg belted a solo jack to straightaway center
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Anthony Santander singled scoring Bo Bichette, Santander's 1st RBI as a Blue Jay
- Two batters later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored on a sac fly by Alejandro Kirk
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as AndresGimenez drilled a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Bichette
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 3IP 3H 2R (both earned) 0BB 1K 45 pitches (28 for strikes)
- The Orioles got one back in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Gary Sanchez that scored Ryan O'Hearn
- Two batters later Roman Urias doubled scoring Cedric Mullins, Hester Kjerstad and Jackson Holliday
- The Orioles added a run in the top of the 4th as Mullins singled scoring Adley Rutschman
- A batter later, Westburg scored on a sac fly by Kjerstad
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a ground out by Guerrero Jr. that scored Nathan Lukes
- Dean Kremer pitching line: 5.1IP 5H 5R (all earned) 0BB 1K 81 pitches (56 for strikes)
- The Orioles added a run in the top of the 7th as Westburg hammered a solo bomb to dead center
- Final score: Orioles 9 Blue Jays 5
My Take:
- It was a disappointing outing for Max Scherzer, who left his first start in a Blue Jays uniform after just 3 innings and 45 pitches with tightness in his right lat. He gave up a pair of solo home runs in the 1st inning, 3 hits overall, didn't walk a batter and struck out 1 batter. The bigger concern is his health, which has been hampered by a nagging thumb injury that seems to affect him around the 45 pitch mark. Hopefully the issue is not too serious and Scherzer doesn't miss more than a start. Last season, Scherzer was limited to just 9 starts and 43.1 innings.
- The bullpen gave up 7 runs on 9 hits while walking 1 and striking out 8 over the last 6 innings. The Blue Jays have to be second-guessing letting Ryan Yarbrough go with lefty Richard Loveday struggling immensley. I do think having a couple of lefties in the bullpen is an asset to face the left-handed batters in the lineups and turn around the switch hitters and make them bat right-handed. Maybe the Blue Jays should take a flyer on Aaron Loup or Taylor Saucedo again.
- Offensively, Andres Gimenez continues to swing a hot stick (he went yard for 2 runs in the 3rd inning of this game). Anthony Santander got his 1st RBI as a Blue Jay. Bo Bichette had his best game of the season, going 4-4 with 2 runs scored. At the end of the day, the Blue Jays couldn't manufacture a run when it mattered and that was a problem last year too.
- The Blue Jays were an abysmal 1-14 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series split to start the season. Chris Bassitt starts against Orioles righty Tomoyuki Sugano.