| George Springer hit a 3-run HR in a 9-1 rout over the Mariners |
First, happy mother's day to all the female readers of this blog. After another solid win thanks to some outstanding pitching and the bats of Bo Bichette, Addison Barger and Myles Straw, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 2nd series sweep and notch their 2nd season series win. Jose Urena got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Jonatan Clase was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 2nd series sweep and notch their 2nd season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Myles Straw singled scoring Nathan Lukes
- The Mariners tied it up in the bottom of the 3rd as Dylan Moore drilled a solo blast to left-center and into the Mariners bullpen
- Jose Urena pitching line: 2IP 2H 1R (earned) 1BB 0K 31 pitches (19 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Ernie Clement that scored Alejandro Kirk
- The Blue Jays added 3 runs in the top of the 5th as George Springer hammered a 3-run bomb to the second deck in left; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Jonatan Clase doubled scoring Lukes and Clement
- Bryce Miller pitching line: 5IP 8H 7R (all earned) 2BB 3K 92 pitches (60 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Barger whacked a solo blast - the 1st of his career - to right
- Three batters later, Lukes singled home Springer
- Final score: Blue Jays 9 Mariners 1
My Take:
- Jose Urena got through the 1st 2 innings and gave up a solo home run on the last batter he faced at the start of the 3rd inning. If the plan was for him to be lifted after one time through the order, why not give Eric Lauer a clean inning to start (not to mention a lead. Urena struggled through the 1st inning, giving up a hit and a walk. He sent the Mariners down in order the next inning. With a low bar, Urena has passed expectations thus far
- The bullpen threw 7 shutout innings, giving up 2 hits, walking a batter and striking out 7. It's amazing what having fresh pitchers who have a nice cushion to work with will do for you. The Blue Jays may have found a combo that will work for them in Urena/Lauer until Scherzer is ready to pitch.
- The Blue Jays removed Alejandro Kirk, who was hit on the back swing off the bat of Julio Rodriguez in the bottom of the 3rd. It was absolutely the right call. You don't mess with head injuries. Give Kirk an extra day or two if he needs it too.
- Nice to see the bats waking up. Addison Barger is taking advantage of every day playing time. He went deep for the first time in his career and scored a second run. Nathan Lukes drove in one and scored twice. George Springer continues to turn back the clock. He unleashed a 3-run bomb to the second deck in left (coincidently nearly where yours truly sat in 2018). Jonatan Clase contributed with a 2-run double
- Every Blue Jays starter except Bo Bichette had at least one hit and either scored a run or drove in a run
- It was the first series sweep in Seattle since 1991, when I was just 7 years old and about a year before I started watching baseball
- The Blue Jays were 6-12 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, after an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays open up a 9-game, 10-day home stand as they take on the Rays for the first time this season (and former starting catcher Danny Jansen). The Rays won the season series last season 9-4, outscoring the Blue Jays 56-45. Ace Jose Berrios starts the week for the Blue Jays. The Rays haven't set their rotation for the series yet.
