Game #141 Cleveland Indians (80-61) @ Toronto Blue Jays (64-77) - game recap

Kevin Pillar hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th as the Blue Jays came from behind to beat the Indians 3-2

Rough game yesterday with Francisco Lindor victimizing the Blue Jays and being in on 5 of the 9 Indians runs yesterday. Tonight, Marco Estrada was looking to get the Blue Jays back on track. Richard Urena got the start at second base and Rowdy Tellez (boy do I love his name) got the nod at first base. Here is tonight's game recap.

no. 141 - Cleveland Clevelands (80-60) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (63-77)

Friday, September 7, 2018 | 7:07 pm

Cleveland North Centre | Toronto, ON

Carlos Carrasco (16-8, 3.52, 1.14) vs. Marco Estrada (7-11, 5.43, 1.41)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays are recovering from whiplash as they built up a 4-2 lead in the 4th only to watch the Clevelands blow right by them in last night's game.

In tonight's second game of the Shapiro Bowl, the Blue Jays attempt to right the ship once again as they send out Marco Estrada to try and keep the Clevelands from partaking in a home run derby, going up against Cookie Carrasco who is having another typically solid season.

Game #140 Cleveland Indians (80-60) @ Toronto Blue Jays (63-77) - game recap

Francisco Lindor was 4-5 with 4RBI and 3 runs scored as the Indians defeated the Blue Jays 9-4

This series lost a bit of luster on Monday when Josh Donaldson was placed on the 10 day DL in order to allow him to get some rehab games in. Like it or not, the Indians made the right move. Instead, Blue Jays fans will see ex-Blue Jays Edwin Encarnacion and Melky Cabrera. Catcher Reese McGuire made his big league debut for the Blue Jays tonight. It appears Luke Maile may be the odd man out at catcher next year with Danny Jansen ready for prime time and McGuire challenging for a roster spot. Russell Martin will probably be kept on in a mentoring role. Rowdy Tellez got the start at first base tonight. For the remainder of the month, expect to see the younger players getting most of the playing time with veterans such as Justin Smoak, and Russell Martin slotted in the odd game. September is a time for the Blue Jays to evaluate what they have in their prospects and the prospects to get a taste of MLB game action. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Indians took the lead in the top of the 1st as Francisco Lindor homered to straightaway center
• The Indians added a run in the top of the 3rd as Lindor homered to right
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Rowdy Tellez doubled scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez doubled home Tellez and Kendrys Morales
• Two batters later, Aledmys Dias reached on a fielding error that scored Hernandez
• The Indians added a run in the top of the 5th as Brandon Guyer doubled scoring Yan Gomes
• A batter later, Lindor singled home Guyer
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 4.1IP 6H 5R (all earned) 0BB 4K 72 pitches (44 for strikes)
• The Indians added a run in the top of the 6th as Greg Allen doubled scoring Edwin Encarnacion
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 6.1IP 7H 4R (3 earned) 1BB 6K 89 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Indians added three more runs in the top of the 9th as Jason Kipnis hammered a 3 run HR to right also scoring Guyer and Lindor
• Final score: Indians 9 Blue Jays 4

My Take

• Sam Gaviglio had a rocky game giving up 5 runs on 6 hits over 4.1 innings. Gaviglio had a particularly difficult time getting the pesky Francisco Lindor out (he homered off Sammy G twice today). To put the icing on the cake, Lindor drove in the inherited runner Gaviglio left on base when he was pulled in the 5th. Gaviglio had a perfect inning in the 2nd. It will be interesting to see if the team elects to bring Gaviglio back with Sanchez and Stroman presumably going to be healthy and prospects Sean Reid-Foley and Ryan Borucki strong contenders for the rotation.
• Reese McGuire had a nice debut for the Blue Jays. He threw out Jose Ramirez trying to steal 2nd base in the 4th inning and he got his first major league hit, a double, in the 9th.
• Rowdy Tellez had a good day at the plate with 3  hits in 4AB, a RBI and a run scored. He did mess up in the 6th as he was unable to corrall a bad throw by reliever David Paulino
• David Paulino made his debut for the Blue Jays, retiring the next three batters, two on strikeouts, after the aforementioned throwing error
• Mark Leiter Jr.'s second career game did not go as well as his first as he gave up a three run blast to Jason Kipnis
• Blue Jays lefty Jose Fernandez threw 2/3 of an inning today, giving up an RBI single to the first batter he faced and retiring the next 2.
• Justin Shafer threw an inning allowing an unearned run on 2 hits and a walk.
• I really like the way Billy McKinney has played and I think the Blue Jays got a real steal in the Happ deal. I look forward to seeing him now and in future years.
• Richard Urena struck out in a pinch hitting appearance in the 9th.
• John Gibbons is going to have a real juggling act getting everyone playing time (September call-ups and regulars) as there are only 8 positions and only one person can pitch at a time.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series as veteran Marco Estrada takes the mound against Indians righty Carlos Carrasco 

#140 - Cleveland Shapiros (79-60) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (63-76)

Thursday, September 6, 2018 | 7:07 pm

Parrot Walk Dome | Toronto, Ontario

Justin Bieber's Cousin (8-3, 4.66, 1.36) vs. Sam Gaviglio (3-7, 5.02, 1.43)

PREAMBLE:

After salvaging the finale of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Blue Jays welcome the Clevelands to town for The Shapiro Bowl, facing a team that will be clinching first place in the AL Central rather soon - their magic number is 8, easily the lowest of any division leader.

Sam Gaviglio takes his 2.68 home ERA (in nine starts) to the mound against Shane Bieber; both are facing tonight's opponents for the first times in their careers.

Game #139 Tampa Bay Rays (75-64) @ Toronto Blue Jays (63-76) - game recap

Alemedys Diaz was 2-4 with 3RBI and a pair of runs scored as the Blue Jays routed the Rays 10-3

Two tough losses to start this three game series and the team was looking to salvage one game against the pesky Rays. The team might be due for a huge game or another letdown. Jonathan Davis was making his MLB debut in center field tonight. Aaron Sanchez was looking toregain his form pre-injury as his first two starts off the DL were so-so at best. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Justin Smoak singled scoring Billy McKinney
• A batter later, Kendrys Morales singled home Devon Travis
• Two batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Smoak
• A batter later, Aledmys Diaz blasted a three run HR to left also scoring Morales and Gurriel Jr.
• Four batters later, Travis singled home Danny Jansen
• Tyler Glasnow pitching line: 0.2IP 5H 7R (all earned) 2BB 2K 39 pitches (23 for strikes)
• The Rays got one back in the top of the 2nd as Kevin Kiermaier hit a solo HR to left-center
• Five batters later, Brandon Lowe was forced in on a bases loaded walk
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as McKinney hit a solo HR to right
• The Rays got one back in the top of the 6th as Kiermaier homered to straightaway center
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Rowdy Tellez doubled scoring Diaz
• Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 6IP 6H 3R (all earned) 2BB 8K 98 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Grichuk singled scoring Smoak
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 Rays 3

My Take

• The Blue Jays jumped right out of the gate putting up 7 runs on 5 hits and a pair of walks on Rays starter Tyler Glasnow. who only recorded two outs before mercifully being removed. It was nice to see the Blue Jays score 4 of the runs off singles and doubles. Home runs are great but you can't be one-dimensional and only score off the long ball or you'll be too easy to defend/pitch to.
• Aaron Sanchez looked better in this start. He had a bit of a rough inning in the 2nd, allowing a pair of runs on three hits and a pair of walks. He had perfect innings in the 1st, 3rd and 5th. Sanchez retired 6 in a row on two separate occasions. I'll take a couple of more starts like tonight to get Sanchez into the off-season feeling positive.
• The Blue Jays scored double digits in runs for the first time since they beat Baltimore 13-3 back on June 10
• Congrats to Rowdy Tellez for getting his first MLB hit and RBI.
• The bullpen was rock solid today, pitching three perfect innings.
• Every Blue Jays starter except Jonathan Davis had at least one hit. Davis struck out all three times he came to the plate. He had one fly ball hit his way in the 6th, which he caught.
• Devon Travis, Kendrys Morales and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each had 3 hits and Justin Smoak and Aledmys Diaz had a pair of hits each.
• Up next, the Cleveland Indians, minus Josh Donaldson, come to town for a four game series starting tomorrow. as Indians righty Shane Bieber (no relation to Justin Bieber) pitches against Jays righty Sam Gaviglio.