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| Daulton Varsho hit a grand slam in a 14-0 shutout win over the Padres |
After a shutout win over the Padres on the strength of home runs off the bats of Vladdy and Anthony Santander, the Blue Jays were going for their 2nd straight win, to get back to .500 and to notch their 6th series win of the season. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's win. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins, notch their 6th series win of the season and get back to .500? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 5th as Nathan Lukes drilled a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Ernie Clement
- Randy Vasquez pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 2R (both earned) 0BB 4K 73 pitches (46 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th on a fielder's choice hit by Bo Bichette that scored Addison Barger. Lukes was out at 2B on the play
- A batter later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled home Clement
- Two batters later, George Springer singled scoring Bichette. Padres 3B. Manny Machado was charged with a throwing error on the play
- Two batters later, Jonatan Clase doubled scoring Guerrero Jr. and Springer
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 0BB 9K 92 pitches (64 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Bichette singled home Clement
- Two batters later, Daulton Varsho hammered a grand slam to dead center; also scoring Bichette, Lukes and Michael Stefanic
- Four batters later, Barger doubled scoring Springer
- A batter later, Clement singled home Clase
- Final score: Blue Jays Padres 0
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman fired 7 shutout innings, scattering 3 hits, walking none and striking out 9. He had out streaks of 7 and 9 batters and retired the last 4 batters he faced. The most important stat of this start was the 7 innings pitched. The starting pitchers have not been pitching past 6 innings and the Blue Jays have been having a bullpen day once a week. I might have even ran Gausman out one more inning, but then again, the Blue Jays offence had a long inning in the 7th inning
- Jose Urena pitched the final 2 inings, allowing 2 hits, walking none and striking out 1. It looks like he will have a multiple inning role in the bullpen and could be the opener on bullpen days.
- The offence exploded for a season-high 14 runs, all scored in the latter half of the game. In fact, in the first 4 innings, the Blue Jays managed 2 base runners (a single by Nathan Lukes in the 3rd inning and George Springer was hit by a pitch an inning later). The whole team contributed to the onslaught with every starter but Alejandro Kirk getting a hit and all but Kirk and Anthony Santander either scoring a run or driving in a run
- The Blue Jays were 7-15 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games, complete their 2nd sweep of the season and to get above .500 for the first time since April 21. Bowden Francis starts against Padres righty Stephen Kolek
