| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in a pair of runs and scored a run in a 6-5 comeback win over the Orioles |
After eking out a win on a bases loaded walk, the Blue Jays were trying to extend the win streak to 4 games. Adam Macko got the start in a bullpen day with Dylan Cease on the IL with a hamstring strainand Brandon Valenzuela was behind the plate. Myles Straw was in LF and Yohendrick Pinago was in RF. Ernie Clement got the start at SS with Charles McAdoo at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- Adam Macko pitching line: 1.2IP 3H 0R 0BB 1K 30 pitches (20 for strikes)
- The Orioles opened the scoring in the button of the 3rd on a bases loaded walk by Adley Rutschman that forced in Jackson Holiday
- Two batters later, Taylor Ward scored on a sac fly by Samuel Basallo
- The Orioles added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Holiday hammered a solo bomb to right
- The Orioles added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Pete Alonso whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right-center
- A batter later, Basallo smacked a solo blast to the opposite field in left
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 7th as Kazuma Okamoto belted a 2-run jack to left also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Two batters later, Charles McAdoo whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right-center; also scoring Daulton Varsho
- Trevor Rogers pitching line: 6IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 3K 84 pitches (61 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a pair or runs in the top of the 8th as Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring George Springer and Ernie Clement
- Brayden Fisher threw a perfect 9th for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Orioles 5
My Take:
- Adam Macko is reminding me a lot of Tim Mayza, who was an effective lefty and could be used in different situations. Ideally, you want Macko to come in as a reliever towards the middle of the game, but with the Blue Jays injury situation, they are going to have to resort to bullpen games at least another couple of weeks. The Blue Jays should have guys stretched out in the minor league system so they can be used as a traditional starter and eat up several innings. The brass in the minors should be monitoring things in the bigs and know when a pitcher might be headed to the IL and skip a starter for a potential call-up.
- At the other extreme is Austin Voth who was lit up for 5 runs on 5 hits while walking 4 and striking out none. Not sure the result would have been different if the Blue Jays had opted to use Voth as a traditional starter. Connor Seabold, Mason Fluharty and Fisher combined for 4 perfect innnings while striking out 2 to give the bats a chance to wake up. Fluharty was credited with the win and Fisher notched his first save of the season.
- After being stymied by Trevor Rogers for 6 innings, the Blue Jays finally got to him via a pair of 2-run HR, including a career first for Charles McAdoo. Vlad led the way offensively, driving in a pair and scoring once. Kazuma Okamoto extended his team lead in HR, going deep for the 12th time this season to put the Blue Jays on the board
- Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo was unsucceessful in the Orioles only ABS challenge and Valenzuela successfully overturned a ball call into s strike call in the Blue Jays lone ABS challenge
- The Blue Jays were 2-11 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 5 games and notch their 9th series win of the season. Trey Yesavage starts against Orioles righty Brandon Young
