Game #38 Toronto Blue Jays (17-20) @ Seattle Mariners (22-14)

 

Game #37 - Toronto Blue Jays (17-20) @ LA Angels (16-21) - game recap

 

Anthony Santander drove in the winning run in an 8-5 comeback win over the Angels

After another loss due to the bullpen blowing a lead, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 1st time this season. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Not surprisingly Andres Gimenez was out of the lineup after leaving last night's game with right quad tightness (Ernie Clement started at 2B in his place). Addison Barger was at the hot corner. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Nathan Lukes in LF, Daulton Varsho in CF and Anthonny Santander in RF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept fot the 1st time this season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Angels opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Taylor Ward whacked a 2-run blast to left and into the Angels bullpen; also scoring Nolan Schaunel
• The Angels added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Jo Adell hammered a solo bomb to left
• Four batters later, Zach Neto scored on a fielding error by Bo Bichette on a ball hit by Ward
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 3rd as Daulton Varsho doubled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr 
• A batter later, George Springer scored on a ground out hit by Alejandro Kirk
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th as Addison Barger singled scoring Springe
• Jose Soriano pitching line: 5IP 8H 3R (all earned) 4BB 6K 90 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 6th as Anthony Santander singled scoring Bo Bichette and Nathan Lukes
• A batter, Guerrero Jr. scored on a sac fly by Varsho
• A batter after that, Springer scored on a ground out hit by Barger
• The Angels got one back in the bottom of the 7th on a sac fly by Logan O'Hoppe that scored Neto
• Chris Bassitt pitching line 6IP 8H 5R(4 earned) 1BB 6K 101 pitches (69 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th as Varsho belted a solo jack to right
• Chad Green pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Angels 5

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt battled through 6 innings giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6. He was able to get 18 outs, but that left an exhausted bullpen with 9 outs to get.  It's getting to the point where the Blue Jays need to just let the starting pitcher go over the 100 pitch arbitrary threshold just to save the bullpen. 
• Speaking of the bullpen, it gave up 1 hit while striking out 7 over the last 2 innings. Yariel Rodriguez recorded 5 of the strikeouts.  On a night where most of the high leverage pitchers were unavailable, Chad Green and Rodriguez came through. 
• This one could have been a blowout after Bassitt gave up 4 runs over the first 2 innings to put the Blue Jays in a 4-0 hole but the Blue Jays chipped away and the bats woke up in the middle of the game Daulton Varsho  and went deep for a huge insurance run in the 8th. Anthony Santander Hit a clutch 2- run single in the 5th to put the Blue Jays ahead. George Springer drew three walls and scored thrice. Vladdy had 3 hits and scored twice
• It truly was a team effort with every Blue Jays starter getting on base at least once and either driving in a run or scoring a run
• The Blue jays were 6-15 with runners in scoring position
• The Blue Jays can still salvage this road trip if they can win the weekend series in Seattle, but they'll have to do it without Blue Jays nation in the stands with many fans expected to stay home to protest Donald Trump's tariffs
• Up next,  the Blue Jays head north to take on the Mariners,  who took 2 of 3 over the water long weekend in Toronto, outscoring the Blue Jays 14-7. Kevin Gausman starts for the Blue Jays.  Luis Castillo was supposed to start for it Mariners but he was traded to the Pirates for cash considerations today.  The Mariners have not announced a replacement starter. 

Game #37 Toronto Blue Jays (16-20) @ Los Angeles Angels (15-20)

 

Game #36 Toronto Blue Jays (16-19) @ Los Angeles Angels (14-20)

 

Game #35 - Toronto Blue Jays (16-19) @ LA Angels (14-20 - game recap-

 

George Springer hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the Angels rallied late for an 8-3 comeback win over the Blue Jays

After an off day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened their first west coast swing tonight against the Angels. The Blue Jays swept the season series last year 7-0, outscoring the Angels 40-15. The Blue Jays officially signed righties Spencer Turnbull (optioned to the FCL to start ramping up) and Jose Urena. Max Scherzer and Eric Swanson were both tramsferred to the 60-day IL, meaning neither will be back before the end of this month. Lefty Josh Walker was optioned back to AAA-ball. Urena got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was back in the lineup and in CF after missing a game with lower back spasms. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Alan Roden in LF and Anthony Santander in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and start the week and road trip with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as George Springer whacked a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 
• The Angels tied it up in the bottom half of the inning s Taylor Ward hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center: also scoring Zach Neto
• Jose Urena pitching line: 4.1IP 4H 2R (both earned) 1BB 2K 74 pitches (52 for strikes)
• Tyler Anderson pitching line: 6.2IP 6H 2R (both earned) 1BB 7K 93 pitches c(66 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom of the 8th asc Anthony Santander whacked a solo blast just fair down the right field line
• The Angels tied it in the bottom half of the inning on a sac bunt by Nolan Schaunel thaat scored Neto
• -Three batters later, Lohan O'Hoppe singled scoring Schaunel
• A batter later, Yoan Moncada hammered a 3-run bomb to right; also scoring Ward and O'Hoppe
• Two batters later, Jo Adell hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• Final score: Angels 8 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Jose Urena did everything the Blue Jays could have asked for,  considering he barely had a chance to let the ink dry on the one year deal he signed officially yesterday.  He gave up ca pair of runs on a 2-run HR in the opening innings and held the Angels to four hits and a walk the rest of the way.  The bullpen still had to cover over half the game,  But that's better than using an opener that will only pitch one to two innings,  depending on how efficient he is in the 1st inning. Here's hoping Urena builds on this start and makes some tweaks in his side session with Pete walker consulting.
• The bullpen imploded in the 8th inning, giving up 6 runs on 4 hits, a walk and a brutal error by Erniel Clement. This is a direct result of  the Blue Jays going to the well too many timed and overtaxing their bullpen. For imi Garcia, it was jis second straign rough appearance (at least this time he wasn't hung out to dry). For Jeff Hoffman, it was his worst appearance of the season. The Blue Jays need Jose Berrios to pitch deep into tomorrow's game becuase reinorcements are a 5-hour flight away.
• The good mews offensively, the Blue Jays are starting to hit home runs. George Speinger went deep in the 1st inning for 2 runs and Anthpnny Santander blted one out in the 8th inning
• The bad news offensively, the team can't score when it matters and can't rally for s big inning. Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho both struck out 3 times
• The Blue Jays were 0-8 with runners in scoring position
• The Loss extended the losing streak to 3 gamws and snapped a seven games winning streak over the Angels (they swept the season series last yesr)
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 3-game skid. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Angels lefty and ex-Blue Jay Yusei Kikuchi