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| Dylan Cease threw 7 shutout innings in a 3-2 come-from-behind, extra innings loss to the Cubs |
After a huge extra innings comback win thanks to a clutch 2-run HR off the bat of Ernie Clement, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win and 7th season series win of the season as they made a brief one day stop in Chicago to make up the June 22nd rainout at Wrigley Field. The two teams split the first 2 games of the series, with the Cubs outscoring the Blue Jays 22-10. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad remained out with soreness in his hamestring and back. Davis Schneider got the start in LF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Luis Urias got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win and 7th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring on a balk charged to Davd Peterson that scored Kazuma Okamoto
- Luis Urias was removed from the game with a hamstring injury prior to the bottom of the 4th
- David Peterson piching line: 5IP 7H 1R (earned) 3BB 3K 89 pitches (53 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Andres Gimenez
- Dylan Cease pitching line: 7IP 2H 0R 1BB 10K 104 pitches (66 for strikes)
- The Cubs tied it in the bottom of the 9th as Alex Bregman whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Pete Crow-Armstrong
- The Cubs walked it off on a throwing error by Brandon Valenzuela on a double steal that scored Crow-Armstrong
- Final: score: Cubs 3 Blue Jays 2 (11 innings)
My Take:
- Dylan Cease fired 7 shutout innings, scattering a pair of hits, walking 1 and striking out 10. He retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced and the last 6 batters of the day. Cease was throwing some nasty pitches and absolutely dotting the corners of the strike zone. He's bee the team's best starting pitcher be far.
- The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 over 3.1 innings. Louis Varland blew his first save of the season on a 2-run HR to the Cubs best hitter, Pete Crow-Armstrong. To be honest, this game should have been over sooner but Ernie Clement made a terrific leaping catch to end the 10th inning and Myles Straw bailed out Brendon Little, who took the loss by gunning down the ghost runner to start the 11th inning. Brayden Fisher retired every batter he faced
- The anemic offense scored a run on balk and Alejandro Kirk tacked on a run with an RBI single. There has to be a serious look into why every single player regressed so badly from last year. It\s alarming that we're in August and Vlad still doesn't have a home run in Toronto. The approach at the plate has to change and batters need to start being more patient.
- As if the team needs anymore adversity, Luis Urias hurt himself while running the bases.
- The Blue Jays were 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Cubs were 1-2 on ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were brutal and pathetic 1-19 wih runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays continue the road trip in Philadelphia. The Phillies took the series in Toronto 2 months ago, outscoring the Blue Jays 14-9. Jose Soriano makes his Blue Jays debut against Phillies righty Zack Wheeler
