Game #134 Oakland Athletics (74-61) @ Toronto Blue Jays (71-62)

 

Game #133 Oakland A's (74-61) @ Toronto Blue Jays (71-62) - game recap

 

Marcus Semien smacked a walk-off HR in the bottom of the 9th as the Blue Jays came from behind to beat the A's 11-10

After barely taking 2 of 3 from the lowly Baltimore Orioles, the Blue Jays opened up a crucial weekend set against the A's, who are three games ahead of the Blue Jays and 2 games back of the Red Sox for the 2nd WC spot. The A's and Blue Jays split the 4 games in Oakland with the Blue Jays outscoring the A's 24-17. Jake Lamb was claimed off waivers. He hit .212 with 6 HR and 13 RBI in113AB over 43 games. Brad Hand was claimed off waivers by the Mets. Hand was 0-2 with a 7.27 ERA in 11 appearances for the Blue Jays. Connor Overton was DFA'd. Kirby Snead was added to the roster. Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kevin Smith was at the hot corner. George Springer was DH with Lourdes in LF, Randal Grichuk in CF and Teo in RF. Could the Blue Jays make it two wins in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The A's opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Matt Chapman doubled scoring Josh Harrison and Starling Marte
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 4th as Teoscar Hernandez smacked a 2-run HR to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Marcus Semien
• The A's retook the lead in the top of the 5th as Matt Olson doubled home Harrison and Marte 
• The A's added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Tony Kemp smacked a 2-run blast to right as Mark Canha
• Alek Manoah pitching line: 5IP 5H 6R (all earned) 3BB 2K 89 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The A's added a run in the top of the 7th as Chapman singled scoring Olson
• Two batters later, Kemp singled home Jed Lowrie
• Sean Manaea pitching line; 7IP 5H 2R (both earned) 0BB 9K 86 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got a run back in the bottom of the 8th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Breyvic Valera
• Three batters later, Alejandro Kirk drew a bases loaded walk forcing in Guerrero Jr.
• A batter later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hammered a grand slam to left; also scoring Hernandez, Jarros Dyson and Bo Bichette 
• The A's retook the lead in the top of the 9th as Canha bashed a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Olson
• The Blue Jays walked it off in the bottom half of the inning as Semien hammered a 3-run bomb to left' also scoring George Springer and Breyvic
• Final score: Blue Jays 11 A's 10

My Take:

• Rough start for Alek Manoah. He gave up 6 runs on five hits, had a scary hit by pitch to the head of Starling Marte while walking 3 and striking iut 2. 
• Today was a game of which bullpen would implode the least. Nate Pearson made his 1st appearance since May 9, missing the entire season with a core muscle injury that could need off-season surgery. He gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits in an inning of work. After the Blue Jays got to the A's bullpen and tied the game in the bottom of the 8th, the normally automatic Jordan Romano gave up a 2-run shot that could have demoralizaed this fragile team
• The offence FINALLY showed some life with a huge 6-run inning to tie a game that looked like it would be a loss and then came back a second time against A's closer Sergio Romo. The Blue Jays showed patience at the plate, drawig a pair of walks to set up the opportunity for the grand slam to tie the game. Vlad had 3 hits, scored twice and drove in a run, Fellow all-star Teo tied the game at 2 with a blast to left, and Marcus Semien walked it off with a no-doubter
• Everyone but Alejandro Kirk (drew a bases loaded walk), Randal Grichuk and Kevin Smith had at least one hit.
• In terms of the wild card race, The Yankees and Red Sox both won their games and the Mariners were leading in the 7th in their game
• Up next, the Blue Jays try for three straight wins. Jose Berrios pitches against A's righty Paul Blackburn

Game #133 Oakland Athletics (74-60) @ Toronto Blue Jays (70-62)

 

Game #132 Baltimore Orioles (41-91) @ Toronto Blue Jays (70-62) - game recap

 

Bo Bichette scored twice, including the game winning run in the 9th as the Blue Jays edged the Orioles 5-4

After dropping a game to the Orioles, the Blue Jays were looking to start the final full month of the season with a win. Anthony Castro was resinstated from the IL and assigned to AAA. Righties Bryan Baker and Nate Pesrson were both added to the roster and active. Steven Matz got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Teo was in CF with Lourdes in LF and Corey Dickerson in RF. Geotge Springer was back in the lineup as DH after appearing to reinjure his leg. Breyvic Valera was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays start September with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom on the 1st as Marcus Semien cranked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• The Orioles tied the game in the top of the 1st on a bases loaded walk to Cedric Mullins that forced in Ramon Urias 
• A batter later, Ryan Mountcastle walked forrcing in Anthony Santander
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 4th as Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring Bo Bichette
• Three batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Hernandez and Corey Dickerson
• Matt Harvey pitching line: 4IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 0K 71 pitches (44 for strikes)
• Steven Matz pitching line: 5IP 5H 2R (both earned) 4BB 5K 100 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Orioles got one  back in the top of the 6th as Austin Wynns singled scoring Austin Mateo
• The Orioles tied the game in the top of the 7th as Trey Mancini doubled scoring Mountcastle
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th on a sac fly by Randal Grichuk that scored Bichette

My Take:

• Steven Matz battled in and out of trouble all night. He had an especially rough 2nd inning, issuing two straight bases loaded walks. Control was not Maz's asset tonight. He threw a wild pitch in the 1st inning but escaped the inning. The one good thing about having abad start tonight is there were a couple of fresh arms in the bullpen with rosters expanding.
• The bullpen cost Steven Matz a win, but mr. Automatic Jordan Romano threw a perfect 9th to preserve the much-needed win
• The offence was clutch in the 4th, knocking in three runs. Every Blue Jays starter had  at least one hit 
• The Blue Jays were 3-11 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, the Mariners, Yankees and Red Sox all won, while the A's lost. The Blue Jays are off tomorrow while the Red Sox and A's both play so they could drop a half game to those teams if they win. At the moment, the Blue Jays are 4.5 games back of the Red Sox for the 2nd WC spot, a game back of the Mariners, who are 3.5 games back of the Red Sox  and 2.5 games back of the A's, who are 2 games back of the Red Sox
• Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays begin a crucial 3-game series against the A's. Sean Manaea starts Friday and the Blue Jays have yet to set their rotation for the series.

Game #132 Baltimore Orioles (41-90) @ Toronto Blue Jays (69-62)