After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays began a west coast swing in Seattle against the Mariner, a rematch of the ALCS that propelled the Blue Jays to an opportunity for their 3rd world series of which they fell inches short. In the regular season, the Blue Jays won the season series outscoring the Mariners 31-24. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as Wednesday's Canada Day blowout against Bo Bichette and the Mets. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and start te west coast swing with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Sean Keys
- Two batters later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled home Gimenez
- Luis Castillo pitching line; 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 101 pitches (712 for strikes)
- Dylan Cease pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 1BB 9K 102 pitches (70 for strikes)
- Louis Varland threw a scoreless 9th for his 18th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 2 Mariners 0
My Take:
- Dylan Cease fired 7 shutout innings, scattering 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 9. He hit into a jam in the bottom of the 3rd but pitched his way out of it witth the help of a nice double play executed behind him. That was really his only stressful inning and Cease retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced
- The bullpen held the Mariners to a walk and a hit while striking out 3 over the last 2 innings. Hoffman was placed on the highest leverage situation he's been in for a while, pitching the 8th with a 2- run lead. Hopefully John Schneider keeps him where he is and doesn't try to make him a closer again.
- The sputtering offense got two clutch base hits off the bats of Vlad and Andres Gimenez. Maybe just maybe Vlad is starting to slowly turn it around, but he is still executing far below what one should expect someone paid aikm to stars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, who have been earning their mega deals a lot better. Vlad basically had his career year in 2021; a year where the Blue Jays were playing their home games in minor league ballparks due to the COVID-19 restrictions. He is almost certainly playing through something and should seriously consider an IL stint to get over whatever the ailment is so he can better help the team. No one should be questioning his commitment to trying to improve - Guerrero Jr. has been spent hours in the batting cage - perhaps too much time. Maybe he should try some video sessions to try and find the flaw in his swing.
- The Mariners Randy Arozarena was unsuccessful in both his ABS challenges and Alejandro Kirk successfully overturned the Blue Jays only ABS challenge. Mariners manager Dan Wilson can't be happy that Arozarena blew both their ABS challenges
- The Blue jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 11th series win of the season. Shane Bieber starts against Mariners righty Logan Gilbert
