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| Myles Straw hit a pair of home runs and drove in 5 runs in a 14-2 rout over the Rangers |
After another comeback win thanks to a 4-RBI and first career stolen base from Alejandro Kirk, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 25th series win and 15th season series win of the season. George Springer was activated off the concussion IL (he served as DH today) and Joey Loperfido was optioned to AAA-ball. Eric Lauer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Davis Schneider was in LF and Myles Straw was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 25th series win and 15th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ernie Clement doubled scoring Bo Bichette
- A batter later, Myles Straw belted a 3- run jack to left-center; also scoring Daulton Varsho and Clement
- Five batters later, Bichette doubled scoring Andres Gimenez and Davis Schneider. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Was thrown out at home to end the inning on the play
- The Rangers got one back in the top of the 3rd as Jake Burger singled scoring Sam Haggerty
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning as Straw whacked a 2-run blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Varsho
- Patrick Corbin pitching line: 2.1IP 8H 7R (all earned) 2BB 2K 62 pitches (37 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning as Varsho smacked a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Alejandro Kirk
- Five batters later, Schneider was forced in on a basse loaded walk to Straw
- Eric Lauer pitching line: 5IP 4H 1R (earned) 3BB 4K 102 pitches (63 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th as Schneider drilled a 3-run bomb to left; also scoring Nathan Lukes and George Springer
- The Rangers got one back in the top of the 9th as Burger singled scoring Wyatt Langford
- Final score: Blue Jays 14 Rangers 2
My Take:
- Eric Lauer fired 5 innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4. Lauer was battling in and out of jams all day, but limited the damage to one run. His continued solid play will likely mean the Blue Jays go to a 6-man rotation to finish the season. Lauer has earned a playoff start in my mind.
- The bullpen gave up a run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 over the last 4 innings. Nobody retired every batter faced, but Tommy Nance pitched 2 innings and Tyler Heineman, the Blue Jays designated position player pitcher, pitched the 9th. \
- Offensively, Myles Straw (2 HR, 5 RBI), Davis Schneider (3-run HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored), Daulton Varsho (2-run HR) and Bo Bichette (2RBI, run scored) did the damage
- Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once and all but Vlad and Alejandro Kirk had a hit
- It was the 282th career win for manager John Schneider, who moved into 4th all-time for winningest Blue Jays manager. Cito Gaston is 1st with 894 wins.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 4 games and complete their 10th series sweep of the season. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Rangers righty Nathan Eovaldi
