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| Andres Gimenez scored 3 runs and drove in a run in a 5-2 win over the Nationals |
After eking out a series split against the Orioles, the Blue Jays were going for their second straight win as they opened a series against the Nationals, who won the season series last year and outscored the Blue Jays 23-17. Bowden Francis got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's thrilling win, but Nathan Lukes was in CF. Could the Blue Jays build their first multi-win streak of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in bottom of the 2nd as Andres Gimenez hammered a solo bomb off the basing of the 3rd deck
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Alan Roden
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Alejandro Kirk doubled scoring Gimenez
- Three batters later, Kirk scored on a fielder's choice hit by Nathan Lukes
- The Nationals got one back in the top of the 6th as CJ Abrams hammered a solo bomb off the basing of the 2nd deck
- A batter later, James Wood belted a solo jack to the opposite field in left-center
- Mike Soroka pitching line: 5IP 5H 4R (all earned) 1BB 3K 83 pitches (57 for strikes)
- Bowden Francis pitching line: 6IP 2H 2R (both earned) 3BB 4K 91 pitches (58 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as George Springer singled scoring Gimnez
- Yimi Garcia threw a pefect 9th inning for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Nationals 2
My Take:
- Bowden Francis was solid today, spinning a no-hitter through 5 innings that was promptly broken up by back to back solo HR to start the 6th inning. Francis was excellent in the 2nd half of the 2024 season and he picked up where he left off. He had out streaks of 6 and 8 batters With the uncertainty of Max Scherzer's spot in the rotation, the Blue Jays need Francis to pitch well and eat some innings.
- The bullpen threw 3 scoreless innings, giving up 3 hits, walking none and striking out 5. Yimi Garcia retired every batter he faced\
- Andres Gimenez continued his hot streak, going 2 for 2 with 3 runs scored, including a monster HR, and he drew a walk. Alejandro Kirk drove in a run and scored a run. On two separate occasions, Kirk's lack of speed cost the team a run (he would later score in the 4th inning, but pretty much any runner would have scored from 2nd base on the Will Wagner single to CF)
- The Blue Jays were 6-13 with runners in scoring position
- With the win, the Blue Jays are above .500 for the first time. While they won the opening day game last season, it took until game 17 to be above .500 again and they never reached that mark again after falling to .500 in game 26. Let's see how the team hansles this early success
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 1st series win of the season. Jose Berrios starts against Nationals righty Trevor Williams
