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| Brendan Cellucci retired every batter he faced and struck out three of them in his big-league debut in a 10-1 loss to the Tigers |
After a loss yesterday due to the bullpen blowing a lead, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 23rd series loss of the season. It was bullpen day with Brayden Fisher getting the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's loss. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 23rd series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- Brayden Fisher pitching line: 1.1IP 0H 0R 2BB 1K 25 pitches (14 for strikes)
- The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Max Clark doubled scoring Riley Greene
- A batter later, Spencer Torkelson smacked a 3-run blast to left-center; also scoring Clark and Eduardo Valencia
- The Tigers added a run in the top of the 5th as Greene singled scoring Kevin McGionigle
- Drew Anderson pitching line: 5IP 2H 0R 3BB 4K 88 pitches (58 for strikes)
- The Tigers added a run in the top of the 6th as John Peck singled scoring Torkelson. Peck was thrown out at 2nd base trying to stretch a single into a double
- The Tigers added a pair of runs in the top of the 8th on a throwing error by Alejandro Kirk that scored Valencia and Torkelson
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Kirk singled scoring Brett Bateman
- The Tigers added a run in the top of the 9th as Hao-Yu Lee hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- Three batters later, Clark singled scoring Ben Malgeri
- Final score: Tigers 10 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- On yet another bullpen day, Brayden Fisher got the first 4 outs, but walked 2 batters and needed over 20 pitches to escape the 1st inning. With the bullpen already reeling from a heavy work load all season covering the three traditional starters, they hardly need more games where they are expected to cover all 27 outs. I still think, whenever baseball resumes after the expected lengthy lockout/strike, the Blue Jays need to keep an extra 2-3 pitchers stretched out in the bullpen and maybe skip a Dylan Cease start once in a while to keep those pitchers stretched out so you're not having 1-2 bullpen days in a five day period. This is just not sustainable.
- The rest of the bullpen gave up 10 runs on 10 hits while walking 6 and striking out 7 over the last 7.2 innings. By far the best pitcher of the night was lefty Brendan Cellucci, in his big league debut, retired all 5 batters he faced,striking out 3 of them. Michael Lorenzen (DFA'd tomorrow?) took the loss
- Alejandro Kirk drove in the only Blue Jays run tonight. Once again, the Blue Jays squandered a bases loaaded opportunity in the 3rd inning (Kirk grounded out to end that rally). Davis Schneider should not have an automatic spot on the opening day lineup next season. Pitchers have figured him out and he has no answer.
- The Blue Jays were 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Tigers were successful on their only ABS challenge
- The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
- Today was Roberto Clemente day. He died in a plane crash attempting to deliver emergency aid to earth quake victims in Nicaragua.
- In termsa of the WC race, with the loss, The Blue Jays are now 2 games back of the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers (leading their game) are also 2 games back for the moment, but will overtake the Blue Jays and be 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot with a crucial series between the Blue Jays and Rangers in Arlington starting Friday. The Orioles (won today) are 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot. Finally the Tigers are 4.5 games back and pretty need to win out and get help from other teams to snag the 3rd WC spot.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2 game skid and avoid their 12th season series loss of the season and avoid being swept in a series for the 4th time this season. Max Scherzer starts against Tigers righty Keider Montero
