 |
| Nathan Lukes scored a run and drove in a run in a 5-3 win over the Red Sox |
After a blowout loss due to a bad day for the pitchers, the Blue Jays were looking to notch their 14th series win and 7th season series win of the season. Righty Paxton Schultz was placed on th 15 day IL with right middle finger inflammation. Lefty Justin Bruihl was recalled from AAA-ball. Eric Lauer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after a half-day off as DH yesterday (George Springer DH'd today). Jonatan Clase was in LF, Nathan Lukes was in CF and Addison Barger was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays notch their 14th series win and 7th 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 1st as Addison Barger belted a solo jack to right
- A batter later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hammered a solo bomb over the green monster in left
- The Red Sox got one back in the bottom of the 2nd as Carlos Narvaez whacked a solo blast to right
- Three batters later, Ceddanne Rafaela doubled scoring Trevor Story
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 4th as Andres Gimenez singled scoring Nathan Lukes
- Two batters later, Ernie Clement was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Tyler Heineman
- Walker Buehler pitching line: 4IP 4H 4R (all earned) 3BB 3K 72 pitches (42 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th as Lukes singled scoring Bo Bichette
- The Red Sox got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Romy Gonzalez doubled scoring Nick Sogard
- Eric Lauer pitching line: 4.1IP 7H 3R (all earned) 0BB 4K 85 pitches (56 for strikes)
- Jeff Hoffman threw a perfect 9th for his 18th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Red Sox 3
My Take:
- Eric Lauer battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits while walking none and striking out 4. After a clean 1st inning, Lauer gave up a pair to erase an early Blue Jays lead. You would have liked to have seen Lauer go a bit deeper into the game with Max Scherzer scheduled to start tomorrow and there being uncertainty with how deep he can go in the game with a wonky thumb that will likely be an issue the remainder of the season. Then Kevin Gausman starts Canada day and the Blue Jays hope his best start of the season on Saturday translates to this week's game. It is likely the Blue Jays will look to acquire a starting pitcher at the trade deadline to give the rotation a bit of depth heading into the stretch drive.
- The bullpen held the Bosox to a hit and a walk while striking out 5 over the last 4.2 innings. Jeff Hoffman capped it off by striking out the side in the 9th inning. Brandon Little also retired every batter he faced.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays got things started with a bang courtesy of back-to-back bombs off the bats of Addiston Barger and Vladdy. Tyler Heineman was both a hero and a zero in the 5th inning, drawing a bases loaded walk to double the lead, but then getting picked off ay 1st base to kill a potential big inning. Nathan Lukes scored the game-winning run and drove in the final run of the day.
- The Blue Jays were 2-5 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays commence a huge series against the Yankees, who sit just 2.5 games up on the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East. The Yankees took the series in the Bronx at the end of April, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-7. Max Scherzer starts against Yankees lefty Carlos Rodon
