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| Andres Gimenez drove in the only 2 Blue Jays runs in a losing effort as the Tigers came from behind to walk off the Blue Jays 3-2 |
After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened a weekend series in Detroit. The Blue Jays took the season series last year, outscoring the Tigers 35-26. Trey Yesavage got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as Wednesday's walk-off win. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Kazuma Okamoto and Ernie Clement
- Brendan Hanifee pitching line: 1IP 1H 1R (earned) 0BB 1K 14 pitches (11 for strikes)
- The Tigers got one back in the bottom of the 3rd of a wild pitch by Trey Yesavage that scored Kevin McGonigle
- The Tigers tied it in the bottom of the 6th as Riley Greene doubled scoring Dillon Dingler
- Trey Yesavage pitching line: 6IP 4H 2R (both earned) 3BB 6K 88 pitches (54 for strikes)
- The Tigers walked it off in the bottom of the 9th as Spencer Torkelson singled scoring Matt Vierling
- Final score: Tigers 3 Blue Jays 2
My Take:
- Trey Yesavage fired 6 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 4 hiis while walking 3 and striking out 6. He's still trying to work his way into mid-season form with his command being iffy. Yesavage uncorked 3 wild pitches and wasn't as efficient as he could have been. The Blue jays are going to be very careful with his work load and you won't see him pushing 100 pitches very often. He's getting better every start though, so progress
- The bullpen gave up 1 run on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 over the last 2.2 innings. Jeff Hoffman has proven the last couple of outings that he should not be handed the closer's role again. Daulton Varsho saved his butt on Wednesday with a walk-off grand slam after Hoffman gave up a pair of runs in the top half of the inning. Tonight, he had to get through the inning to send the game to extra innings. His velocity was solid tonight, but his command hasn't been good enough. He could be Pete Walker's next pet project.
- Offensively, Andres hit a clutch 2-run double in the 2nd, but the bats weren't able to do much after that on a bullpen game for the Tigers. Vlad and Kazuma Okamoto both made poor decisions to swing on 3-0 counts. Vlad should have known better, but he is pressing hard to prove he's worth the $500 million investment the team has made in him.
- Brandon Valenzuela is going to need a big ice pack after getting dinged a few times by wild pitches. Maybe Tyler Heineman will get an extra start if Valenzuela wakes up sore in the morning.
- The Tigers were 1-1 on ABS challenges and Ernie Clement was unsuccessful in the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
- The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season. It will be a bullpen day in the truest sense of the word with Eric Lauer DFA'd the day after his last ugly appearance. Mason Fluharty will be the first man up with Yariel Rodriguez expected to pitch some innings too. The Tigers will counter with righty Jack Flaherty
