no. thirteen: Toronto Blue Jays (8-4) @ Baltimore Orioles (4-8)

Wednesday 11 April 2018

7:05 PM EDT / Oriole Park at Camden Yards / Baltimore, MD

Marco Estrada (1-0 2.77ERA 9K 1.00WHIP) v. Kevin Gausman (0-1 8.00 8K 1.67WHIP)

Game #12 Toronto Blue Jays (8-4) @ Baltimore Orioles (4-8) - game recap

Aaron Sanchez pitched 8 strong innings as the Blue Jays defeated the Orioles 2-1. Sanchez had a no-hitter through 7 innings.

Toronto has looked like a vastly different team than 2017. Almost everyone is healthy and the Blue Jays have been getting  timely hitting. Last night saw the Blue Jays lose DH Kendrys Morales to a hamstring injury. Morales was placed on the 10 day DL today. The Blue Jays also recalled LHP Tim Mayza as Aaron Loup has been largely ineffective when called upon this season. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• Aaron Sanchez picked off Jonathan Schoop to end the first inning. It is the first time this season a Blue Jays 
• Andrew Cashner pitchng line: 7IP 4H 0R 3BB 6K 104 pitches (61 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top half of the 8th courtesy of a Yangervis Solarte single that scored Justin Smoak
• Tim Beckham broke up the no-hitter with a double that went between Donaldson's legs
• The Orioles tied the game on a double by catcher Chance Sisco, scoring Beckham
• Curtis Granderson gave the Jays the lead back in the bottom half of the inning with a solo HR
• Roberto Osuna retired the side in order for his 5th save of the season, 100th of his career. He is the youngest pitcher to reach the milestone.
• Final score Blue Jays 2 Orioles 1

My Take: 

• Aaron Sanchez was outstanding today. He had a no-hitter going through 7 innings that was broken up the first pitch of the 8th inning. His only  blemishes through the first seven innings were a hit batter and 4 walks. Sancheez had tons of late movement on his pitches. He also benefited from great defensive plays by Kevin Pillar and Devon Travis. Sanchez is back after a disastrous 2017 season that saw him make only 4 starts due to blister issues.
• The Blue Jays did just enough offensively late, getting to relievers Darren O'Day and ex-Jay Miguel Castro. I really like how patient Jays hitters have been at the plate this season. It has been paying dividends as the Blue Jays look to match their longest winning streak of the season tomorrow night. Devon Travis really has to be more patient at the plate. He swung at the first pitch in 2 of his 4 AB. He is in a major slump with a .083 batting average and .257 on base%. Travis has been good in the field though.
• Props to Andrew Cashner who gamely pitched three more innings after taking a Russell Martin grounder off the right ankle. Cashner pitched well but wasn't as efficient with his pitches as Sanchez. 
• Next up the Blue Jays look for their first series sweep of the season with Marco Estrada pitching against Kevin Gausman. With the win tomorrow, Toronto would be guaranteed to have a winning record on this road trip.

no. twelve: Toronto Blue Jays (8-4) @ Baltimore Orioles (4-7)

Tuesday 10 April 2018

7:05 PM EDT / Oriole Park at Camden Yards / Baltimore, MD

Aaron Sanchez (0-1 5.40ERA 9K 1.71WHIP) v. Andrew Cashner (1-1 4.09 10K 1.18WHIP)

Game #11 Toronto Blue Jays (7-4) @ Baltimore Orioles (4-7) - game recap

Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam in the 9th in the Blue Jays 7-1 rout over the Orioles. He also played 1st base for the first time since 2012

After winning the weekend series vs. Texas, the Toronto Blue Jays opened a 3 game series vs. divisioin rivals Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore won the season series 12-7 in 2017. The Orioles come into the series looking to gain some ground in the AL East after a tough 4-6 record through their first 10 games. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

• DH Kendrys Morales was forced to leave the game after injuring his hamstring in the top of the 2nd. Josh Donaldson
• Steve Pearce opened the scoring in this series with a 2 run HR scoring Curtis Granderson in the top of the 3rd
• Manny Machado answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with a solo shot leading off the inning
• JA Happ pitching line: 6IP 5H 1R (earned) 3BB 9K 104 pitches (69 for strikes)
• Dylan Bundy pitching line: 7IP 4H 2R (both earned) 2BB 10K 101 pitches (66 for strikes)
• Granderson drew a huge bases loaded walk to extend the lead in the 9th, scoring Yangervis Solarte
• The next batter up JD crushed a grand slam to dead center scoring Granderson, Kevin Pillar and Travis
• Final score: Blue Jays 7 Orioles 1

My Take:

• Due to the Morales injury, Josh Donaldson moved from 3B to 1B defensively. Donaldson last played first base for Oakland in 2012. Regular first baseman Justin Smoak was DH'ing today, so if the Blue Jays had shifted him to the field, pitcher JA Happ would have had to bat. The big difference between third base and first base is having to receive throws, potentially off the mark. First baseman also have to field grounders to the pitcher who is running to cover the base, at times Donaldson committed a throwing error the first play that went his way. 
• The Morales injury could be a blessing in disguise. Players like Donaldson and Devon Travis need to be handled cautiously. As suggested in this week's random thoughts post, John Gibbons might opt to DH Travis on days he is scheduled to have off to keep his bat in the lineup. Same goes for catcher Russell Martin, who is following a similar playing schedule as Travis. Look for the Blue Jays to take every precaution with Morales and put him on the DL.
• Both starting pitchers pitched very well today. The 2 starters combined to strike out 19 batters. Both pitchers were having quick, efficient innings that allowed them to pitch later in the game. Happ had his best start of the season, throwiing 6 solid innings and getting 9 strikeouts for the second straight start. He will be a major part of the success for the Blue Jays this season.
• Props to the Orioles defense who made 2 huge defensive plays: Bundy threw out Pierce at home in the 2nd and in the 8th Trey Mancini threw out Almedys Diaz, who was attempting to score on a sac fly. It's these kind of plays that win most ball games.
• This was a tight 2-1 pitcher's duel until the 9th inning when the Blue Jsys broke it open off great patience at the plate and a huge JD grand slam
• Up next, Aaron Sanchez makes his third start of the season against fellow righty Andrew Cashner as the Blue Jays look to continue to have success on this road trip. They are 3-1 so far on the trip.

no. eleven: Toronto Blue Jays (7-4) @ Baltimore Orioles (4-6)

Monday 9 April 2018

7:05 PM EDT / Oriole Park at Camden Yards / Baltimore, MD

JA Happ (1-1 5.40ERA 14K 1.30WHIP) v. Dylan Bundy (0-0 0.69 15K 1.00WHIP)