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| Ernie Clement hit a 2-run HR in a 5-4 come-from-behind loss to the Padres |
After dropping yesterday's game due to a bad day for the pitchers, the Blue Jays were looking to end the unofficial 1st half with a win and notch their 12th series win and 4th season series win of the season. Chad Dallas was optioned to AAA-ball and righty CJ Van Eyk was selected to the MLB roster. Ace Kevin Gausnan got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Sean Keys at 1B. Could the Blue Jays end the unofficial 1st half with a win and notch their 12th series win and 4th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Nathan Lukes whacked a solo blast to right
- The Padres tied it in the bottom of the 2nd as Jake Cronenworth singled scoring Manny Machado
- Two batters later, Gavin Sheets was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Sung-Mun Song
- Two batters later, Ty France scored on a balk by Kevin Gausman
- The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the top of the 4th as Ernie Clement whacked a 2-ryun blast to the second deck in left; also scoring Andres Gimenez
- German Marquez pitching line: 4IP 6H 3R (all earned) 2BB 4K 85 pitches (55 for strikes)
- Kevin Guasman pitching line: 6IP 4H 3R (all earned) 3BB 8K 103 pitches (69 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 8th as Jonatan Clase singled scoring Daulton Varsho
- The Padres tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Machado singled scoring Xander Bogaerts
- Two batters later, Jase Bowen scored on a sac fly by France
- Mason Miller pitched a scoreless 9th for his 25th save of the season
- Final score: Padres 5 Blue Jays 4
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman fired 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 8. Gausman ran into trouble in the 2nd inning, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits, 2 walks and a balk (he is prone to the balk due to the complexity of his delivery.) After escaping that mess, he went on to retire 13 of the last 15 batters he faced, which was huge for a bullpen that is very much in need of a 4 day rest after a busy first half of the season. If the Blue Jays are sellers at the trade deadline, Gausman shouls fetch a decent return for a contender looking to boost their rotation.
- The bullpen gave up a pair of runs on 3 hits while walking none and striking out 1 over the last 2 innings. Jeff Hoffman blew his 4th save of the season and took the loss after allowing the 2 runs in the 8th inning. I'm sure the Blue Jays didn't want to use closer Louis Varland any more than 3 outs for tthe save today. I would have used Hoffman in the 7th and Tyler Rogers in the 8th given all the yips Hoffman encounters when pitching with a lead.
- Nathan Lukes went deep in the 1st to give the Blue Jays an early lead. Ernie Clement went deep in the 4th inning to give the Blue Jays their second lead of the game. Jonatan Clase is doing his best to give the Blue Jays a tough decision when Addison Barger and Anthony Santander are ready for return from the IL. Vlad needs to use the all-star break to get his back healthy and do some serious video work to fix his swing. The team needs him to return to October 2025 Vlad.
- The Blue Jays were 3-1 on ABS challenges and the Padres were 1-1 on ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were 2-9 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays kick off the unofficial second half of the season at home against the White Sox, who swept the Blue Jays the first weekend of April, outscoring the Blue Jays 14-7. Neither team has set their rotation for the series. Dylan Cease should get the first start based on first half performance and the need to start strong in the second half,
