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| Bo Bichette hit a 2-run HR in the 9th to lift the Blue Jays to a 2-0 shutout win over the Rangers |
After a tough shutout loss due to the inept offense, the Blue Jays were looking to end the road trip with a win and notch their 7th series win of the season. Paxton Schultz got the start with Ali Sanchez behind the plate. Anthony Santander got the half day off as DH with George Springer in RF and Nathan Lukes in LF. Bo Bichette was completely off after DH'ing yesterday (Ernie Clement was at SS). Could the Blue Jays end the road trip with a win and notch their 7th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- Paxton Schultz pitching line: 2.2IP 1H 0R 0BB 4K 45 pitches (28 for strikes)
- Tyler Mahle pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 3BB 5K 92 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 9th as Bo Bichette belted a 2-run jack to left; also scoring Ernie Clement
- Jeff Hoffman pitched a perfect 9th for his 12th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 2 Rangers 0
My Take:
- Paxton Schultz got the first 8 outs on the regularly scheduled bullpen day on what should be Max Scherzer's spot in the rotation, but the aging righty lasted just 3 innings in his first start and still has major hurdles to pass as he tries to get over the 50 pitch mark, the point where his thumb has started barking. Scherzer was a risky signing to begin with given his age and injury history. Since then the Blue Jays have pretty much been trying to cobble it together every 5 days. It hasn't helped that Bowden Francis, whose turn is the day before this start, hasn't been pitching more than 5 innings and if Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios or Chris Bassitt has a bad start, as happened to Bassitt over the weekend, it puts a lot of pressure on the bullpen every 5th day. Schultz isnt trusted to go more than once through the rotation. Other options like Eric Lauer and Easton Lucas have had varying degrees of success. The Blue Jays seem to like having the opener go through the lineup once and then turn it over to the next man up for the next few innings. This works ok if the opener is effective. The trouble occurs if the game goes to extra innings or a lot of pitchers are needed that day due to injury or ineffectiveness. It impacts the next few games. Here's hoping either Scherzer comes back soon, or Spencer Turnbull, currently building up in the minors, can end the vicious cycle of bullpen days every 5th day
- The bullpen was excellent again tonight, firing 6.1 shutout and hitless innings, walking three batters and striking out 9. The bullpen, when rested is capable of stealing games. However, they have had to be near perfect lately with how bad the offence has been
- Bo Bichette got a clutch 2-run HR in the 9th, That was about it offensively today
- Hitting witth runners in scoring position has absolutely been an achilles heel latey. The Blue Jays were 1-9 with runners in scoring position
- You have to think John Schneider is going to be the scapegoat soon on this disappointing season that is trending much like last year. Ross Atkins shouldn't be allowed to fire another manager, but this team needs a wakeup call and a new manager could do that. The Blue Jays have way too much invested in this season with the competitive window closing.
- Up next, the Blue Jays return home where they will begin a series against the Athletics. The Blue Jays and A's split the season series last year, with the Blue Jays outscoring the A's 21-16. Ace Jose Berrios starts against A's lefty Jacob Lopez
