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| Addison Barger hit a walk-off HR in the bottom of the 9th in a 5-4 comeback win over the Diamondacks |
After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened a week-long homestand that started tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks won the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 24-13. Bowden Francis was placed on the 15-day IL with right-shoulder impingement and righty Eric Swanson was DFA'd. Righty Paxson Schultz was recalled from AAA-ball. Lefty Justin Bruihl had his contact selected from AAA-ball. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette was back in the field after the half day off as DH yesterday (George Springer got the half day off as DH tonight). Will Robertson was in LF and Addison Barger was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid and start the week and homestand with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Addison Barger
- The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Guerrero Jr. annihilated a solo bomb to the second deck in left-center
- The Diamondbacks got one back in the top of the 4th as Pavin Smith singled scoring Josh Naylor
- Jonatan Clase left the game prior to the top of the 5th after getting hit in the knee by a pitch
- The Diamondbacks tied it up in the top of the 5th as Ketel Marte singled scoring Corbin Carroll. Addison Barger was charged with a throwing error on the play
- Two batters later Naylor doubled scoring Marte. Myles Straw was injured on the play, crashing into the CF wall. Oh yeah and he came in as an injury replacement at the beginning of the inning
- Brandon Pfaadt pitching line: 5IP 4H 2R (both earned) 1BB 3K 81 pitches (46 for strikes)
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 6IP 6H 3R (all earned) 1BB 5K 97 pitches (67 for strikes)
- The Diamondbacks added a run in the top of the 7th as Eugenio Suarez singled scoring Marte
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Guerrero Jr singled home Bo Bichette
- The Blue jays tied the game in the bottom of the 9th as Bichette belted a solo jack to left
- A batter later, Barger hammered a solo bonb off the basing of the 3rd deck in right
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Diamondbacks 4
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt threw 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hiis while walking 1 and striking out 5. He got a bit unfortunate on two of the runs with Addison Barger making a throwing error on a cannon to 3rd base that Ernie Clement could not handle and Myles Straw almost made a great play two batters later on s deep fly ball, but missed the catch and ended up leaving the game with an apparent ankle injury. For at least the next two turns through the rotation, it's going to be crucial that Bassitt, Jose Berrios and kevin Gausman get as deep into games as possible to save the bullpen that will be used heavily, potentially up to the all star break. Alek Manoah isn't expected back from Tommy John surgery until August at the earliest and with Max Scherzer, who knows if his thumb can handle more than about 50 pitches? Either way, expect general manager Ross Atkins to be listening to trade offers on pitching help and be looking to the waiver for someone to become available.
- As I mentioned in the point above, the bullpen is expected to face heavy usage the next couple od weeks at least with Bowden Francis hitting the IL. Tonight, it gave up a run on 2 hits while walking 4 and striking out 1 over the last 3 innings. The Blue Jays used 4 relievers to get the 9 outs. None of the relievers retired every batter they faced.
- The offence came through when it had to with back-to-back bombs off the bats of Bo Bichette and to walk it off. Vlad took care of the other 3 Blue Jays runs with 3RBI, including a mammoth HR. Vlad finished the day a triple shy of the cycle.
- The outfield depth is about to be tested in a big way. Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes and Anthony Santander are all already on the IL. Should Clase and Straw, or even one require an IL stint, the Blue Jays would need to bring up another outfielder and Alan Roden and George Springer would likely share time at CF with Davis Schneider, Will Robertson and Addison Barger covering the corner outfield positions.
- The Blue Jays were 2-6 with runners in scoring posittion
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 11th series win of the season. Eric Lauer starts against Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez
