 |
| Nathan Lukes scored twice and drove in a run in an 8-4 comeback win over the Brewers |
After the bullpen, this time Jeff Hoffman blew another game, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the two game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time and being swept for the 2nd time in a season series. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh. Yimi Garcia was transferred to the 60 day IL. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (George Springer served as DH today). Nathan Lukes was in LF and Addison Barger was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the two game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time and being swept for the 2nd time in a season series? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Brewers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as William Contreras smacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Jackson Chourio
- The Blue jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Nathan Lukes doubled scoring George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- A batter later, Ernie Clement singled home Lukes
- The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Springer doubled scoring Myles Straw
- The Brewers got one back in the top of the 3rd as Brice Turang smacked a solo blast to the opposite field in left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- Three batters later, Contreras singled scoring Chourio
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Springer
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 4IP 9H 4R (all earned) 0BB 1K 67 pitches (45 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Tyler Heineman doubled scoring Clement
- A batter later, Straw singled scoring Andre Gimenez and Heineman
- Brandon Woodruff pitching line: 4.1IP 10H 8R (5 earned) 2BB 3K 89 pitches (59 for strikes)
- Final score Blue Jays 8 Brewers 4
My Take:
- Max Scherzer battled through 4 innings, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits while walking none and strikng out 1. The Brewers took him deep twice, moving the Blue Jays starters into 1st place for home runs allowed. Overall, Blue Jays pitchers are 3rd behind the Rockies and A's for home runs allowed. Could there be cause for concern that Scherzer was lifted after throwing 67 pitches or perhaps John Schneider and Co. wanted to limit the damage knowing how bad the bullpen has been lately.
- Speaking of the bullpen, aside from Brandon Litlle, who looks like his confidence is shattered, it held things together, pitching 5 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, walking none and striking out 5. Back to Little, who loaded the bases on a hit, and 2 errors commited by him (a fielding error on a fairly routine ground ball that should have resulted in at least one out and then he fielded a ball cleanly, but got indecisive of where to record the out and ended up throwing the ball in the dirt at Vladdy. Right away, Tyler Heineman was telling him to throw to 1st base for the sure out. By the time Little realized that 1st was his only option, after considering throwing to get the runner at 3rd base and 2nd base, he had to rush the throw). He did record on out and he threw underhand to get that out, and needed Tommy Nance to bail him out. Nance should start seeing some higher leverage situations since he has been the team's best pitcher by far. Louis Varland bounced back with what might have been his best appearance as a Blue Jays, retiring all five batters he faced and striking out 3.
- Offensively, the bottom five in the order (Nathan Lukes, Ernie Clement, Andres Gimenez, Tyler Heineman and Myles Straw) did the damage, combining to go 8-20 with 5 runs scored and 6 RBI. Leadoff man George Springer also scored twice and drove in a run.
- Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once and all but Bo Bichette had a hit
- The Blue Jays were 5-10 with runners in scoring position
- It was mixed results in the standings with the Yankees losing and the Red Sox winning. The Yankees are 3 games back of the Blue Jays and the Red Sox are 3.5 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East.
- Up next, the Blue Jays hit the road starting with a matinee in Cincinatti tomorrow. The Reds won the season series last year with both teams scoring 20 runs. Chris Bassitt starts against Reds righty Hunter Greene.
