 |
| George Springer drove in a pair of runs, including a solo HR, in a 12-4 loss to the White Sox |
After a muc needed few days of R and R, especially for the pitchers and banged up players like Vlad, the Blue Jays opened the unofficial start to the second half as they welcomed the White Sox to town. The White Sox swept the series in Chicago, outscoring the Blue Jays 14-7. Spencer Miles got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after a half day off as DH last Sunday (Brandon Valenzuela served as DH tonight). George Springer was in LF and Myles Straw was in RF. Ernie Clement was at SS and Luis Urias got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid, avoid their 10th season series loss of the season and start the unofficial 2nd half with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The White Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Kyle Teel doubled scoring Colson Montgomery
- A batter later, Andrew Benintendi scored on a fielder's choice on a ball hit by Braden Montgomery
- Two batters later, Chase Meidroth singled home Montgomery
- A batter later, Sam Antonacci hammered a 2-run bomb off the basing of the 3rd deck in right; also scoring Meidroth
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 3rd on a fielder's choice hit by George Springer that scored Ernie Clement
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 3rd as Luis Urias whacked a solo blast to left
- The White Sox added 3 runs in the top of the 5th as Montgomery (Colston) doubled scoring Meidroth, Antonaccii and Munetaka Murakami
- Spencer Miles pitching line: 4IP 6H 6R (all earned) 0BB 4K 60 pitches (42 fot strikes)
- Anthony Kay pitching line: 4IP 2H 2R (both earned) 3BB 5K 83 pitches (47 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Springer smacked a solo blast to left
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Brandon Valenzuela whacked a solo blast to right
- The White Sox added 3 runs in the top of the 7th as Montgomery (Braden) tripled scoring Miguel Vargas, Montgomery (Colson) and Randal Grichuk
- A batter later, Montgomery scored on a sac fly by Tristan Peters
- Final score: White Sox 12 Blue Jays 4
My Take:
- Spencer Miles battled through 4 innings, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits while walking none and striking out 4. It was really 1 bad inning that did him in in the 2nd inning where he gave up 5 runs on 5 hits. He retired the side in order in the 1st and 3rd innings. Unfortunate bad inning that doesn't take away from the solid 1st half he had. His next assignment? The mighty Rays, who started the unofficial second half a full 12 games ahead of the Blue Jays and 1st in the AL East
- The bullpen gave up 6 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3 over the last 5 innings. Adam Macko has been less effective lately. Could he be swapped for Brendon Little soon?
- The offense chipped away at the deficit scoring runs in innings 3-6. George Springer (2RBI including a solo HR), Luis Urias (solo HR) and Brandon Valenzuela (solo HR) led the way.
- Alejandro Kirk was 2-1 on ABS challenges and White Sox catcher Kyle Teel was 2-2 on ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were 0-4 with runners in scoring position
- This series features two squads with opposite trends. The White Sox lost over 100 games last year and are currently 1st in the AL Central. The Blue Jays came within a game of winning the world series in 2025 and are currently below .500 and last in the AL East
- They need to change the rule about managers in the world series managing the following year's all-star game. The honor should go to the managers of the best team of the 1st half.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 16th series loss of the season. Shane Bieber starts against White Sox righty Davis Martin
