- |
| George Spriinger drove in 4 runs, including a solo HR, in an 8-1 rout over the Orioles |
After a strong tesm effort to even the series, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 25th series win of the season. Ace Dylan Cease got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Charles McAdoo was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Brett Bateman was in RF. Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Bue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 25th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap,
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Charles McAdoo
- The Orioles tied it in the top of the 5th as Pete Alonso singled scoring Dylan Beavers
- The Blue Jays retook the lrad in the bottom half of the inning as George Springer whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right-center
- A batter later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. whacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- A batter after that, Kazuma Okamoto hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- Dylan Cease pitching line: 5IP 4H 1R (earned) 5BB 9K 94 pitches (60 for strikes)
- Trevor Rogers pitching line: 6IP 7H 4R (all earned) 1BB 5K 95 pitches (65 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th on a bases loaded walk to Brandon Valenzuela that forced in Nathan Lukes
- A batter later, Springer doubled scoring Valenzuela, Myles Straw and Bateman\
- Final score: Blue Jays 8 Orioles 1
My Take:
- Dylan Cease battled throgh 5 innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 5 and striking out 9. He's clearly showing signs of fatigue at the end of a long season where threw a ton of pitches - tossing over a hundred pitches in several of his starts. He's a good enough pitcher that he was able to escape a real mess in the first inning after he loaded the bases with none out by striking out the side. Cease retired 8 in a row at one point. At this point, if the Blue Jays are able to secure the 3rd wild card spot by early in the final week of the season, I would skip his final scheduled start of the season so he's full strength for game 1 of the wild card series
- The bullpen threw 4 scoreless innings, giving up 5 hits, walking 1 and striking out 6. Ricky Tiedemann will definitely have a role on the Blue Jays pitching staff. It will likely be in the bullpen after all the injury woes and the Blue Jays not wanting to tax his arm as a startng pitcher. Brayden Fisher retired every batter he faced.
- It finally happened! Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a home run at home in 2026. After missing a HR by a couple of feet, Vlad worked the count to 3-2 and golfed the next pitch into the Blue Jays bullpen. George Springer also had a great day at the plate, starting the 5th inning off with his own long ball and driving in 3 crucial runs in the 8th with a bases clearing double to allow the Blue Jays to avoid having to use closer Louis Varland, who has also pitched a ton this season. Brett Bateman drew a bases loaded walk in the 8th and scored on Springer's double. The bats are starting to get it done.
- Brandon Valenzuela was a perfect 3-3 on ABS challenges and Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo was 1-1 on ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were 2-8 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the WC race, the Blue Jays remain a game back of the Guardians, who also won today, for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers (leading their game) are 2.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment but will gain a half game if they hold on and win or drop a half game with a loss. The Orioles are not 4 games back.
- Up next, the Blue Jays continue the homestand against the Tigers. The Blue Jays won the series in Detroit back in mid-May, outscoring the Tigers 8-5. Jose Soriano starts against Tigers righty Troy Melton
