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| Kazuma Okamoto hit a 3-run HR to lift the Blue Jays to an 8-6 comeback win over the Cubs |
After a blowout loss thanks to a brutal day for the pitchers and only George Springer doing anything offensively, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 11th series loss and 8th season series loss of the season. Daulton Varsho was reinstated from the 10-day IL and Charles McAdoo was optioned to AAA-ball. Righty Lazaro Estrada was reinstated from the 60-day IL and lefty Brendon Little was optioned back to AAA-ball. Patrick Corbin got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Myles Straw was in LF, Varsho was in CF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 11th series loss and 8th season series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Cubs opened the scoring in unge bottom of the 2nd as Matt Shaw whacked a 3-run blast to left; also scoring Alex Bregman and Ian Happ
- Patrick Corbin pitching line: 3.2IP 6H 3R (all earned) 3BB 4K 101 pitches (57 for strikes)
- Colin Rea pitching line: 5.1IP 3H 0R 0BB 3K 78 pitches (50 for strikes)
- The Cubs added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th as Pete Crow- Armstrong belted a 2-run jack to right; also scoring Dansby Swanson
- The Blue jays got 3 back in the top of the 7th as Daulton Varsho hammered a 3-run bomb to right; also scoring Vladimir Gurrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto
- The Blue jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Myles Straw
- A batter later, Guerrero Jr. singled home Springer
- Two batters later, Okamoto smacked a 3-run blast to left; also scoring Guerrero Jr and Yohendrick Pinago
- Louis Varland got the last 6 outs for his 15th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 8 Cubs 6
- The Cubs got one back in the button half of the inning on a fielder's choice hit by Nico Hoerner that scored Miguel Amaya
My Take:
- Patrick Corbin battled through 3.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4. Not a real efficient start for Corbin as he needed 101 pitches to get 11 outs. With Shane Bieber set to return to the rotation, it is likely his last start in a Blue Jays uniform.
- The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3 over the last 5.1 innings. Louis Varland did a great job in getting the last 6 outs and limiting the damage to one run when Mason Fluharty left him with a bases loaded nobody out mess in the 8th where the Cubs could have taken the lead right back with one swing.. His only blemish was an error on a rushed throw in the 9th.
- The offense came to life in a big way in the 7th and 8th inning, scoring 8 runs on 6 hits and a hit batter. Daulton Varsho got things started with a rocket to right for 3 runs and Japanese rookie Kazuma Okamoto also went deep for 3 runs to give the Blue Jays the lead. In between, Vlad and Alejandro Kirk had clutch RBI base hits.
- Every Blue Jays starter except Davis Schneider and Nathan Lukes had a hit
- The Cubs were 5-1 on ABS challenges and Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya successfully overturned an impressive 4 ABS challenges. Brandon Valenzuela was unsuccessul on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge on the day.
- The Blue Jays were 4-7 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, weather permitting, the Blue Jays go for 2 straight wins and to notch their 11th series win and 4th season series win of the season. Dylan Cease starts against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga
