Game #71 Toronto Blue Jays (38-33) @ Philadelphia Phillies (42-29) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement scored twice and extended his hitting streak to 7 games in an 11-4 loss to the Phillies

After a heartbreaking loss due to an 8th-inning home run given up by Chad Green, the Blue Jays were trying to snap the 2-game skid, avoid being swept for the 4th time this season and end the road trip on a winning note. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette got the half day off as DH with Ernie Clement at SS. George Springer got the complete day off with Will Robertson in RF and making his big league debut. Alan Roden was in LF and Jonatan Clase was in CF.  Could the Blue Jays snap the 2 game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season and end the road trip on a winning note? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Phillires opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Kyle Schwarber singled scoring Trea Turner
• The Phillies added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Alec Bohm singled scoring Otto Kemp
• The Phillies added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th as Kemp singled home Max Kepler and JT Realmuto
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th on a sac fly Alan Roden that scored Andres Gimenez
• Three batters later, Jonatan Clase singled scoring Ernie Clement. Zach Wheeler was charged with a throwing error on the play
• The Phillies got a pair back in the bottom of the 5th as Bohm drilled a 2-run bomb to left; also scoring Schwarber
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 4.2IP 9H 6R (all earned) 1BB 5K 88 pitches (60 for strikes)
• The Phillies added 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th as Nick Castellanos whacked a grand slam to left; also scoring Kemp, Schwarber and Bohm
• Zack Wheeler pitching line: 6IP 4H 2R (1 earned) 0BB 9K 94 pitches (61 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 7th as Will Robertson singled scoring Clement
• Two batters later, Bo Bichette singled scoring Roden
• The Philles added a run in the bottom half of the inning on a fielder's choice on a ball hit by Schwarber that scored Kemp
• Final score: Phillies 11 Blue Jay 4 

My Take:

• Jose Berrios battled through 4.2 innings, giving up 6 runs on 9 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5. He was battling in and out of jams in all but the 2nd inning. Berrios obviously did not have his best stuff today, but there has been so much pressure on him, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt to pitch well and deep into games with an ineffective Bowden Francis and bullpen days in the other two rotation spots. It is simply not feasible nor fair to expect these three veteran starters to be at their best every start.
• The bullpen gave up 7 runs on 5 hits while walking 4 and striking out 1 over 3.1 innings. Not sure where Eric Swanson fits in this bullpen. In a low-leverage situation, Swanson gave up a grand slam, and needed 27 pitches to record 2 outs. There's no way he can be trusted in a high-leverage situation at this point. Is he even healthy? Also, is Spencer Turnbull going to be a viable option on the bullpen day? He needed 51 pitches to get 7 outs. Unfortunately, Max Scherzer still has at least one more tehab start before he may be ready to return. His velocity was low-90s Saturday and dropped a few MPH by the time his first rehab appearance was done. The good thing is Scherzer hit the magic 50-pitch plateau where his thumb has been barking and apparently came out of it with just normal soreness.
• Offensively, Ernie Clement continued to swing a hot stick, extending his hitting streak to 7 games and collecting 3 hits in the game. Will Robertson got his first big league hit in his big league debut
• Despite the score, every Blue Jays starter but Vlad and Alejandro Kirk reached base and all but Kirk, Vlad and Addison Barger had a hit
• The Blue Jays were 3-6 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays start a week long homestand as the Diamondbacks come to town. The Diamondbacks won the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 24-13. Chris Bassitt starts against Diamondbacks righty Brandon Pfaadt

Game #71: Toronto Blue Jays (38-32) @ Philadelphia Phillies (41-29)

 

Game #70 Toronto Blue Jays (38-32) @ Philadelphia Phillies (41-29) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in a run in a losing effort as the Phillies came from behind to edge the Blue Jays 3-2

After a brutal shutout loss thanks to a lackluster offence and a rough start from Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series. Bowden Francis got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. George Springer was in RF after DH'ing yesterday (Alejandro Kirk served as DH today). Jonatan Clase was in LF. Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 9th series loss? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Myles Straw singled scoring Ernie Clement
• The Phillies tied it in the bottom of the 3rd on a bases loaded walk to Bryson Stott that forced in Nick Castellanos
• A batter later, Otto Kemp was hit by a pitch to force in Max Kepler
• Bowden Francis pitching line: 3.2IP1H 2R (both earned) 3BB 4K 74 pitches (41 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Bo Bichette
• The Phillies took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Kepler whacked a solo blast to right
• Mattt Strahm pitched a perfect 9th for his 3rd save of the season
• Final score: Phillies 3 Blue Jays 2

My Take:-

• Bowden Francis battled through 3.2 innings, giving up a pair of runs on a hit while walking 3 and striking out 4. Command was a big issue and that made this start very inefficient. Francis needs a reset. The Blue Jays might want to check him out physically or give him an IL stint just to give him a break and let him work through things. A certain Blue Jays hall of famer, Roy Halladay, was sent all the way back to single-A, where he reworked his delivery, and ended up throwing a perfect game in 2010, winning 2 Cy Young awards and making the all-star team eight times. Francis might need something similar, but running him out every 5 days is not helping him work through the issues he is battling, whether it be mechanical, physical or both. Plus it's forcing the bullpen to pitch even more when the Blue Jays are having bullpen days in Max Scherzer's rotation spot.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 over the last 4.1innings. Chad Green was tagged with the loss after Max Kepler took him deep. Home runs have been a big problem for Green, who has now allowed 9 this season in 30 appearances, so pretty much one every three appearances. None of the relievers retired every batter they faced.
• Offensively, Myles Straw and Vladdy both drove in a run. Guerrero Jr. has certainly not lived up to his 500 million deal that will kick in next season. 8HR and 30ish RBI won't cut it. He needs to be closer to his 2021 season, where he finished 2nd in AL MVP voting with 48HR and 111RBI. 
• The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position. 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid, avoid being swept for the 3rd time this season and end the road trip with a win. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Phillies righty Zach Wheeler.

Game #70: Toronto Blue Jays (38-31) @ Philadelphia Phillies (40-29)

 

Game #69 Toronto Blue Jays (38-31) @ Philadelphia Phillies (40-29) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk had a pair of hits in an 8-0 shutout loss to the Phillies

After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays continued the road trip in Philadelphia. The Blue Jays won  of 3 in Toronto a week ago, outscoring the Phillies 14-10. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirke behind the plate. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Davis Schneider in LF and Addison Barger in RF. Andres Gimenez was back in the lineup at 2B after the complete day off Wednesday. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Phillies opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Brandon Marsh doubled scoring JT Realmuto. Otto Kemp was thrown out at home on the play
• Two batters later, Kyle Schwarber hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Marsh and Trea Turner
• The Philles added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Kemp singled scoring Realmuto
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5IP 4H 4R (all earned) 4BB 7K 95 pitches (56 for strikes)
• Ranger Suarez pitching line: 7IP 4H 0R 1BB 9K 94 pitches (65 for strikes)
• The Phillies added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Reamuto doubled scoring Max Kepler
• Three batters later, Realmuto scored on a sac fly by Marsh
• A batter later, Turner singled scoring Bryce Stott
• Final score: Phillies 8 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits while walking 4 and striking out 7. After a rough 1st two innings, Gausman settled down and retired 9 in a a row to end his start. Not a real efficient game, and the Blue Jays needed length from him with a struggling Bowden Francis on the bump tomorrow.
• The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 3 over the last a3 innings. Eric Swanson was charged with 3 of the runs. He has definitely declined since he started with the Blue Jays. His injury problems the lsst couple of years are a major factor
• Offensively, Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider all reached base multiple times. 
• The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Bowden Francis starts against Phillies lefty Cristopher Sanchez