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| Kazuma Okamoto hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the Braves hung on to edge the Blue Jays 4-3 |
After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays continued the road trip in Atlanta. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, outscoring the Braves 13-12. Ace Kevin Gausman got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. George Springer was back in the lineup at DH after the complete day off Sunday. Vlad was back in the field after the half day off as DH Sunday. Nathan Lukes was in LF and Yohendrick Pinago was in RF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and start the week with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Braves opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Michael Harris II doubled scoring Ronald Acuna Jr,
- Two batters later, Harris II scored on a sac fly by Ozzie Albies
- The Blue jays tied it in the top of the 2nd as Kazuma Okamoto whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right; also scoring Yohendrick Pinago
- The Braves retook the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Albies singled scoring Matt Olson
- The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Daulton Varsho that scored Nathan Lukes
- The Braves retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Olson smacked a solo blast to right
- Bryce Elder pitching line: 6.2IP 6H 3R (all earned) 1BB 6K 103 pitches (64 for strikes)
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 5H 4R (all earned) 2BB 8K 96 pitches (58 for strikes)
- Raisel Iglesias threw a scoreless 9th for his 11th save of the season
- Final score: Braves 4 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman battled through 6 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8. The Braves got to him right away, scoring twice in the 1st inning. Three starters may be getting close to returning with Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer and Dylan Cease all eyeing starting rehab assignments in the coming days. This will take the pressure off Gausman to have to pitch deep in games to save the bullpen.
- The bullpen pittched 2 scoreless innings. Brayden Fisher and Connor Seabold both retired every batter they faced
- Offensively, Kazuma Okanoto (2-run HR) and Daulton Varsho had clutch game-tying RBI's, but the Blue Jays weren't able to score the go-ahead run. Caase in point, 9th inning, the Blue Jays had 2 chances to at least send the game to extra innings, only to see Andres Gimenez and pinch hitter Jesus Sanchez pop out to end the game. George Springer and Vlad both need to do more to help out.
- Lots of ABS challenges in this one. Brandon Valenzuela was unsuccessful in the Blue Jays only ABS challenge. The Braves were a perfect 4-for-4 with Braves catcher Sandy Leon overturning three ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were 0-6 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 10th series loss and 5th season series loss of the season. Patricjk Corbin starts against Braves righty Grant Holmes
