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| Nathan Lukes drove in the winning run in a 7-6 extra innings comeback win over the Padres |
After a massive 14 run shutout win, the Blue Jays were going for their 3rd straight win, 2nd series sweep and to get over .500 for the first time since April 21. Bowden Francis got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Anthony Santander got the complete day off after leaving last night's game with right hip inflammation. Daulton Varsho got the half day off as DH with Myles Straw in CF. Jonatan Clase was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games, complete their 2nd series sweep and get above .500 for the first time since April 21? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Padres opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Gavin Sheets whacked a 2-run blast to right and into the Padres bullpen; also scoring Jackson Merrill
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 3rd on a fielder's choice hit by Daulton Varsho that scored Tyler Heineman. Sheets was charged with a fielding error on the play.
- A batter later, Addison Bargerc singled scoring Bo Bichette
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Bichette singled scoring Jonatan Clase
- Two batters later, Heineman scored on a sac fly by Varsho
- Bowden Francis pitching line: 4IP 3H 2R (both earned) 3BB 4K 77 pitches (47 for strikes)
- Stephen Kolek pitching line: 6IP 7H 4R (3 earned) 3BB 6K 92 pitches (58 for strikes)
- The Padres tied it up in the top of the 9th as Sheets hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Merrill
- The Padres took the lead in the top of the 10th as Luis Arraez singled scoring Jose Iglesias
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Clase singled scoring Nathan Lukes
- The Padres took the lead in the top of the 11th as Sheets singled scoring Manny Machado
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Varsho tripled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Three batters later, Lukes singled home Varsho
- Final score: Blue Jays 7 Padres 6 (11 innings)
- Bowden Francis gave the Blue Jays 4 innings today, giving up a pair of runs on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4. The Blue Jays are already trying to figure out how to get through a game every 5th game. Having a starter only make it through 4 or 5 innings not only effects the bullpen on that day, but it also puts more pressure on kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and Jose Berrios to have a good start on their next turn and pitch deep into the game. Max Scherzer, assuming no setbacks, is several weeks from being ready to pitch. Spencer Turnbull is currently building up in the minor league system. Neither Alek Manoah nor Rickey Tiederman will be ready to return from Tommy John surgery until after the all star break. It's imperative that Francis figure things out because there are not any viable options to start at the moment.
- The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7 over the last 6 innings. Jeff Hoffman blew his 3rd ssve of the season when Gavin Sheets took him deep in the 9th inning. You have to wonder if Hoffman is playing hurt. Braydon Fisher was credited with the win for getting the last out of the 11th inning
- The offense refused to let the Blue Jays lose, coming back three times (twice in extra innings). It was another team effort with every starter except Ernie Clement and Myles Straw either scoring a run or driving in a run. All but Vlad, Clement and Straw had a hit
- The team seems to have a better approach, at least lately, with getting timely hits. The Blue Jays were 6-21 with runners in scoring position.
- Up next, the Blue Jays head south for a 3-game weekend series in Tampa Bay. The Rays are playing at the Yankees spring training facility since Tropicana Field's roof was badly damaged by a hurricane. The Rays won the series in Toronto a week ago, outscoring the Blue Jays 20-15. Eric Lauer starts against Rays righty Drew Rasmussen.
