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| Bo Bichette drove in the winning run as the Blue Jays held on to edge the Marlins 7-6 in 12 innings |
After a solid win thanks to an excellent Blue Jay debut for Shane Bieber and a 3-RBI, 2 runs scored effort from Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 21st series win and 16th season series win of the season. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as last night. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 21st series win and 16th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays open the scoring in the top of the 3rd as George Springer singled scoring Nathan Lukes
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Alejandro Kirk doubled scoring Addison Barger
- Three batters later, Bo Bichette was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Myles Straw
- Janson Junk pitching line: 5.2IP 6H 3R (all earned) 1BB 3K 92 pitches (65 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Springer hammered a solo bomb to dead center
- The Marlins got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Troy Johnston singled scoring Liam Hicks
- A batter later, Javier Sanoja doubled scoring Eric Wagaman. Johnston was thrown out at home on the play
- Two batters later, Otto Lopez singled scoring Sanoja
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 6.1IP 4H 2R (both earned) 0BB 8K 81 pitches (56 for strikes)
- The Marlins tied it up in the bottom of the 9th as Sanoja singled scoring Derek Hill
- The Blue jays retook the lead in the top of the 10th on a sac fly by Ty France that scored Bichette
- The Marlins tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Jakob Marsee doubled scoring Lopez
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 11th as Andre Gimenez singled scoring Straw
- The Marlins tied it in the bottom held of the inning as Sanoja singled scoring Hill
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 12th a Bichette singled home Springer
- Brandon Little pitched a scoreless 12th for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 7 Marlins 6 (12 innings)
- Jose Berrios had a nice bounceback game, firing 6.1 strong innings, giving up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 8. Typically strikeouts tend to drive up the pitch count, but Berrios was averaging about 10 pitches an inning after 6 innings. Having longer waits between innings might have hurt any momentum he had. A caveat, he was facing a weaker lineup than he will be his next scheduled start against the Brewers.
- The bullpen was lit up for 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5 over the last 5.1 innings. The bullpen blew the save in three consecutive innings and it took a heads up play from Bo Bichette, who threw out the ghost runner at second base, to prevent a 4th blown save. There hs to be angst among the Blue Jays coaching staff over the ability of Jeff Hoffman to be the closer. Yes, he has 28 saves on the season, but he has an ERA over 4.00 and he has a tendency to walk batters. Trouble is, Yimi Garcia can't be counted on to return to health this season. Seranthony Dominquez retired every batter he faced, but his wildness isn't a good trait for a closer. Louis Varland nearly blew the 4-run lead in the 7th inning and I think the team likes him in the setup role. I still think Pete Walker is the scapegoat if the Blue Jays get bounced in the playoffs. There have been too many occasions where mound visits have not helped the struggling pitcher and the opposition immediately capitalizes. Bullpen decisions have been suspect and pitchers need a new voice leading them.
- Kudos to the Blue Jays offense for being clutch in 3 straight innings to give the Blue Jays a chance to win this game. George Springer (2 runs scored, 2 RBI), Bo Bichette (game-winning RBI, scored twice), Alejandro Kirk (RBI double) and TY France (clutch sac fly in the 10th) led the way offensively
- The Blue Jays were 4-16 with runners in scoring position
- With the Red Sox blowing out the Yankees, the division lead remains at 5 games over the Bosox with the Yanks falling to 6.5 games back. The Tigers also won earlier to maintain a 2-game lead over the Blue Jays for the best record in the AL and home field advantage through at least the ALCS.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and complete their 10th series sweep and 6th season series sweep of the season. Kevin Gausman starts against Marlins righty Eury Perez
