#89 - Baltimore oriLOLes (25-61) at Toronto Blue Jays (33-55)

Friday, July 5, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Dylan Bundy (3-10, 4.91, 1.34) vs. Marcus Stroman Aaron Sanchez (3-11, 6.31, 1.77)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays open a three-game series against the oriLOLes with the opportunity to open up an even bigger gap between these two teams in the epic struggle for fourth place in the A.L. East.  This is also the final series before the All-Star break, which hopefully won't destroy the offence's momentum where they've scored 5+ runs in 14 of their last 15 games and 16 of 18 overall.

Aaron Sanchez looks to further torpedo what little value he has left and to send his agent deeper into fits of apoplexy as he takes the ball tonight.  He's 0-10, 8.52 in his last 12 starts with his last win coming on April 27th.  He'll go up against Dylan Bundy, who is 2-1, 5.01 in five appearances (four starts) at Rogers Centre.


NOTES:

Jonathan Davis has been called up and Thomas Pannone sent down.

It's been announced that Marcus Stroman won't pitch again until after the All-Star break, including in the ASG. Looks like Ken Giles will get the call, after all.

So... let's see, what excuse are the Orioles going to come up to forfeit this series?  After all, they're the ones who pulled off the only intentional forfeit in over a hundred years (Sept. 15, 1977 when Earl Weaver pulled his players off the field at Exhibition Stadium because he was being a pissy blowhard trying to act like a genius).  They also considered forfeiting in 2015 because Buck Showalter (also being a pissy blowhard trying to act like a genius) didn't like how the new turf w-as being so sproingy with the way the ball was bouncing.

From John Lott at the Athletic ($):  Danny Jansen talking proud about his hitting, for once.

George Bell is in the house tonight.  First 15,000 fans tonight will receive a George Bell replica jersey and he'll be there to sign autographs.

There were no airports in 1775, you hare-brained orange ignoramus.  (sorry, had to get that one out of my system)


LINEUPS:

Game #88 Boston Red Sox (46-41) @ Toronto Blue Jays (33-55) - game recap

Marco Hernandez hit a clutch pinch hit HR in the 9th as the Red Sox edged the Blue Jays 8-7

Here we are, the rubber match for bragging rights this week. It was a bullpen day for both teams with Marcus Stroman wisely deciding to skip his last scheduled start before the all-star break with the pec injury he suffered last start still nagging him. Quite frankly, Stroman should also skip the all-star game and completely heal. Randal Grichuk got a complete day off with Teoscar Hernandez in CF and Eric Sogard making his first career start in RF. Sogard played 10 games in LF over 2 seasons for the Brewers 2017-18. Danny Jansen and his hot stick are in the lineip as well. The Blue Jays rookie catcher  has a chance to reach the Mendoza line (he came into this game batting .197). Could the Blue Jays win their second series in a row vs. Boston? No Vlad in the lineup for the second time in less than a week. (They took two of three in Fenway Park two weeks ago.) Here is tonight's game recap.

#88 - Boston Red Sox (45-41) at Toronto Blue Jays (33-54)

Thursday, July 4, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Hector Velazquez (1-3, 5.31, 1.30) 

vs. 

Derek Law (0-1, 6.91, 1.68) and Thomas Pannone (2-3, 5.91, 1.54)

PREAMBLE:

Short and sweet tonight, folks.  The Blue Jays look to pull out a series win against the Red Sox in the finale of a three-game set tonight.

Marcus Stroman is not able to go tonight, so Derek Law will open the game for an inning or so then turn things over to Thomas Pannone for (hopefully) the bulk of the innings the rest of the way.  The Red Sox will counter with Hector Velazquez, who is 3-0, 1.15 in 11 relief appearances for his career against the Jays, though he's just 3-6, 5.04 in 18 career starts overall (including 7 this season).

Game #87 Boston Red Sox (45-41) @ Toronto Blue Jays (33-54) - game recap

Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead 2-run HR in the 6th as the Blue Jays doubled the Red Sox 6-3

After a thorough beating by David Price and Co., the Blue Jays got to face ace Chris Sale, another tough lefty. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays were left to figure out their pitching for 9 innings (or more). Originally the plan was to have SRF start today as a traditional starter. However, Plan A went out the window when Trent Thornton stunk up the joint to the tune of 7 runs on 11 hits and a walk in just 2.2 innings, forcing SRF into the game last night. Instead, SRF (knowing he was not going to pitch today) was sent down to Buffalo for possibly one day, pending the status of Marcus Stroman, who reportedly still isn't feeling right after leaving his start Saturday with a pec cramp in his left shoulder. Jacob Waguespack was activated from the injury list and was expected to eat up a bunch of innings. Largely the same lineup as yesterday, except Freddy Galvis batted leadoff with a lefty on the mound. Justin Smoak got a half day off, serving as the DH with Rowdy Tellez starting at 1st base. Brandon Drury was in RF and Cavan Biggio was a 2B. Could the Blue Jays steal a win? Here is tonight's game recap

Game Highlights:

• David Phelps pitching line: 1P 0H 0R 1BB 1K 13 pitches (8 for strikes)
• The Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Rafael Devers singled scoring Brock Holt and Mookie Betts
• The Blue Jays  got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. crushed one to dead center. 
• The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 4th as Christian Vazquez crushed one to straightaway center
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Danny Jansen annihilated a 2-run bomb to the second deck in left also scoring Justin Smoak
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Brandon Drury crack a 2-run jack to dead center also scoring Rowdy Tellez
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Tellez scored on a sac fly by Freddy Galvis
• Ken Giles pitched a perfect 9th for his 13th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 3

My Take:

• The Blue Jays bullpen did a solid job, limiting the potent Red Sox lineup to 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk. The Red Sox threated to tie with the tying run on 2nd base with one out in the 7th, but Daniel Hudson got the next two Red Sox batters out, ending the threat. He pitched the 8th as well to turn the ball over to the unstoppable Ken Giles
• The Blue Jays took advantage of three mistakes Chris Sale made for five runs, and that was the difference in the game. Charlie Montoyo looks like a genius for putting Freddy Galvis in the leadoff spot. Galvis was 3-4 with a walk and an RBI. Brandon Drury also had a strong game, batting at the opposite end of the lineup with a 3-4 effort, a run scored and 2 RBI.
• Up next, the rubber match of the series with a 3rd evening start time. Marcus Stroman is tentatively penciled in to pitch, but he may be forced to miss a turn as reports say he isn't feeling right. This may also put his participation in the AS game in doubt. The Red Sox are slated to have a bullpen day tomorrow. It could very well be a literal battle of the bullpen for bragging rights this week.

#87 - Boston Red Sox (45-40) at Toronto Blue Jays (32-54)

from Blue Jays Fans on Twitter.  That looks a lot like Charlie, no?

Wednesday, July 3, 2019 | 7:07 pm

Rogers Centre | Toronto, Ontario

Chris Sale (3-7, 3.82, 1.03) vs. Jacob Waguespack (0-0, 4.50, 1.00)

PREAMBLE:

After a rough start by Trent Thornton that the offence couldn't come back from in last night's opener, the Blue Jays hope to get another solid appearance from a call-up in today's game to get back on the right track.

Jacob Waguespack is being reinstated from the injury list to start for the Jays after Sean Reid-Foley was forced into action in yesterday's game.  He'll face Chris Sale, who is having a rough year, both overall and against the Jays (0-1, 8.00 in 2 starts this year), but has usually done well against in the Jays in his career, 7-4, 2.81 in 17 appearances (14 starts).

Breaking news:  Perhaps it's not Waguespack tonight, after all... the Jays released a lineup that shows David Phelps starting tonight.  Maybe they're saving Wags for tomorrow in case Stroman can't go, or Phelps is being used as an opener for Wags.  *shrugs shoulders*