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| Alejandro Kirk drove in a run and extended his hitting streak to 12 games in an 8-3 loss to the Yankees |
After a huge win on the strength of 6.2 strong innings from Dylan Cease and a 2-RBI effort from Nathan Lukes, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 20th series win and 9th season series win of the season. Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's win. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 20th series win and 9th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Yankees opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Spencer Jones doubled scoring George Lomard Jr.
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Brett Bateman that scored Charles McAdoo
- The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th on asac fly by Daz Cameron that scored George Springer
- Carlos Rodon pitching line: 4IP 2H 2R (1 earmed) 2BB 2K 76 pitches (42 for strikes)
- The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the 6th on a bases loaded walk to Trent Grisham that forced in Lombard Jr.
- A batter later, Ben Rice singled scoring Jones and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
- Jose Soriano pitching line: 5IP 7H 5R (all earmed) 3BB 7K 100 pitches (62 for strikes)
- The Yankees added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th as Chisholm belted a 2-run jack to the second deck in right; also scoring Cody Bellinger
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Myles Straw
- The Yankees added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Grisham hanmmered a solo bomb to dead center
- Final score: Yankees 8 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Jose Soriano battled through 5 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 7. Three of the runs should not have been charged to him because he should have been done after 5 innings. This game shows the inability of the front office to address the lack of pitching depth. Yes, they could not have anticipated every single injury that occurred, but they knew Shane Bieber, Jose Berrios, Trey Yesavage (pitched through 4 tiers last season) and Bowsdenn Francis would all be unavailable to start the season. It didn't help that Cody Ponce tore his ACL his first start of the season and both Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer were unable to replicate the 2025 season.
- The bullpen gave up 3 more runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 over the last 3 innings. At least they stayed away from most of the high leverage guys, other than Mason Fluharty
- The sputtering offence produced a run on a sac fly and a clutch base hit off the red hot bat of Alejandro Kirk, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Not good enough
- Neither team was successful in ABS challenges with the Yankees 0-2 and Alejandro Kirk unsuccessful on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge.
- The Blue Jays were 1-9 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the WC race, the Blue Jays and Twins (could gain a half game if they win today) are 1.5 games back of the Rangers for the 3rd WC spot.. The Guardians look like they are going to be tied with the Rangers with a win today. The Orioles already lost and are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Mariners are losing and could fall to 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Tigers have already lost and are 3.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Tigers, Rangers, Guardians, Mariners, and Twins all play tomorrow and would gain a half game on the idle Blue Jays with wins
- Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open a week long homestand as they take on the Royals for the first time this season. The Royals took the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 45-21. Max Scherzer starts against Royals righty Seth Lugo
