Game #140 Toronto Blue Jays (77-62) @ Oakland Athletics (42-97)

 

Game #139 - Toronto Blue Jays (77-62) @ Oakland A's (42-97) - game recap

 

George Springer drove in 3 runs and scored once in a 7-1 win over the A's. Coupled with the Rangers' loss, the Blue Jays are now back in a WC spot, a half game ahead of the Rangers and a half game back of the Mariners for the 2nd WC spot

After hanging on to edge the A's last night, the Blue Jays were looking to stretch the win streak to 3 games, notch their 26th series win of the season and their 15th season series win of the season. Chros Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing the last couple of games. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio in RF. Whit Merrifield was in LF and Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Santiago Espinal was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays make it 3 straight wins, 26 series wins and 15 season series wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Ken Waldichuk pitching line: 6IP 3H 0R 0BB 6K 90 pitches (59 for strikes)4
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 7th as Kevin Kiermaier singled scoring Alejjandro Kirk 
• A batter later, George Springer singled scoring Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal
• A batter after that, Davis Schneider dpubled home Kiemaier
• Two batters later, Springer scored on a sac fly by Whit Merrifield 
• Two batters later, Schneider was forced in by a bases loaded walk to Biggio
• The A's got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Jordan Diaz singled scoting Seth Brown
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th as Springer singled scoring Kiermaier 
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 8IP 7H 1R (earned) 0BB 7K 97 pitches (66 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 7 A's 1

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt threw 8 excellent innings, allowing a run on 7 hits while walking none and striking out 7. He retired 11 in a row at one point. Bassitt is arguably been the best Blue Jays pitcher this season and should be considered for the job of opening day starter next season and a start in the playoffs 
• Bowden Francis pitched a perfect 9th
• Offensively, the Blue Jays were stymied by A's starter Ken Waldichuk for the 1st inning, but rallied for 6 runs on 3 hits, 4 walks and a sac fly. The boys even added an insurance run in the 8th inning. George Springer (3RBI, 1 run scored), Kevin Kiermaier (2 runs scored 1RBI) and Davis Schneider and Cavan Biggio (a run scored and 1RBI each) 
• The Blue Jays were 5-13 with runners in scoring position\
• In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays are in a wild card race, surpassing the Rangers, who were clobbered by the Astros tonight (they are a half game ahead of the Rangers and boy is that 4-game series against the Rangers in Toronto next week ever getting bigger by the day). The Mariners and Red Sox both suffered walk off losses.
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for 4 straight wins and their 8th series sweep of the season. Hyun-Jin Ryu starts against A's lefty JP Sears

Game #139 Toronto Blue Jays (76-62) @ Oakland Athletics (42-96)

 

Game #138 - Toronto Blue Jays (76-62) @ Oakland A's (42-96) - game recap

 

Cavan Biggio drove in a pair and scored the winning run in a 6-5 extra innings win over the A's

After eking out a win yesterday, the Blue Jays continued the road trip in Oakland as they made their second to lasr vist to Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum as the A's prepare to relocate to Las Vegas after the 2024 season. Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kevin Kiermaier was in CFand Daulton Varsho was in LF. Whit Merrifield got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to two games? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring on a double play ball hit by Kevin Kiermaier that scored Alejandro Kirk
• A batter later, George Springer doubled scoring Daulton Varsho
• A batter after that, Cavan Biggio singled home Springer
• Luis Medina pitching line: 4.2IP 3H 3R (all earned) 3K 70 pitches (41 for strikes)
• The A's got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Lawrence Butler hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• The A's got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Ryan Noda drilled a solo bomb to right-center\
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 6IP 4H 2R (both earned) 1BB 7K 84 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The A's tied it up in the bottom of the 7th as Jordan Diaz hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 10th as Santiago Espinal doubled scoring Mason McCoy
• Two batters later, Biggio singled scoring Espinal
• Two batters later, Biggio scored on a ground-rule double hit by Spencer Horwitz
• The A's got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Butler whacked a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Shea Langeliers
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 A's 5 (10 innings)

My Take:-

• Jose Berrios threw 6 strong innings, allowing a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7. After giving up a single and walking a batter to start the game, Berrios retired 14 straight. He was removed after throwing just 84 pitches as John Schneider has zero trust with his starters
• Predictably, the first reliever gave up the tying run. Today's usage of the bullpen indicated several relievers were unavailable. Jordan Romano gave up a 2-run jack as well to make things a little close for comfort 
• Offensively, the Blue Jays had unexpected heroes: Santiago Espinal drove in the go ahead run in the 10th and scored the first insurance run. Cavan Biggio drove in a pair and scored once
• Every Blue Jays starter except Kevin Kiermaier reached base at least once
• The Blue Jays were 6-13 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the WC race, the Astros beat the Rangers, the Red Sox beat the Rays and the Mariners lost. The Blue Jays are now within a half game of the final WC spot with a 4-game set against the Rangers in a week's time looming large
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to three games and notch their 26th series win and 15th season series win of the season. Chris Bassitt starts against A's lefty Ken Waldichuk

Game #138 Toronto Blue Jays (75-62) @ Oakland Athletics (42-95)