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| Davis Schneider hit a solo home run in a 6-2 loss to the Rangers |
After a tough loss yesterday due to a bd start from ace Dylan Cease and an even worse effort from the offense, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 23rd series loss of the season. Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Andres Gimenez was back in the lineup at SS after a couple of days off to rest a sore hamstring. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 23rd series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rangers opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Josh Jung whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right
- Cal Quantrill pitching line: 1.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K 12 pitches (7 for strikes) (left the game injured)
- The Rangers added a run in the bottom of the 2nd on a throwing error by Andres Gimenez on a ball hit by Danny Jansen that scored Wyatt Langford
- A batter later, Nicky Lopez scored on a wild pitch by Jose Soriano
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Andres Gimenez
- Thc Rangers added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Langford doubled scoring Jung
- Three batters later, Brandon Nimmo was forced in after Jansen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded
- A batter later, Langford scored on a sac fly by Evan Carter
- Jose Soriano pitching line: 5IP 4H 6R (5 earned) 1BB 8K 80 pitches (50 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 7th as Davis Schneider whacked a solo blast to left\
- Final score: Rangers 6 Blue Jays 2
My Take:
- Jose Soriano battled through 5 innings, giving up 6 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 8. One of the runs against was on him completely, uncorking a wild pitch to make it 3-0. Soriano must have been frustrated to be taken deep with 2 outs in the 1st inning and then to see Ernie Clement throw the ball away for the game's second run in the 2nd inning (anyone missing Bo Bichette?). He did settle down after the throwing error to retire 8 in a row. Soriano will get one more start in the final weekend of the season.
- The bullpen gave up a hit and 3 walks in 3 (mostly) scoreless innings - although Paul Sewald was on the mound when the Rangers 5th and 6th runs came across the plate, but the runs were charged to Soriano. Brendan Cellucci did well to escape a jam due to walking a pair of batters in the 9th. The rookie has looked good in the three games he's pitched. I'd keep him low leverage to let him keep building confidence.
- The bats don't look like they are good enough to carry the Blue Jays to the playoffs. Alejandro Kirk had a third of the Blue Jays hits and drove in half the runs. Davis Scheider went deep for the Blue Jays other run. At least Vlad showed some hustle running from 1st to 3rd. Bottom 4 in the lineup were a combined 1-13.
- Alejandro Kirk successfully overturned both of the Blue Jays ABS challenges. The Rangers did not attempt an ABS challenge
- The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, both the Guardians and White Sox won, so the Chisox remain a game back of the Guardians for the AL Central title. With the win, the Rangers took over top spot in the AL West, placing the Astros (lost today) in the wild card race and 2 games back of the White Sox for the 3rd WC spot.The Blue Jays are 3 games back (techically 4 due to the White Sox owning the tiebreaker for winning the season series. The Orioles (lost today) are 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season and first in a season series. It will be yet another bullpen day with Spencer Miles as the opener. The Rangers will counter with righty Jacob deGrom
