Game #63 Toronto Blue Jays (33-29) @ Minnesota Twins (34-28)

 

Game #62 Philadelphia Phillies (37-25) @ Toronto Blue Jays (33-29) - game recap

 

Myles Straw drove in three runs and scored twice in a 9-1 rout over the Phillies

After a walk off win over the Phillies thanks to Alejandro Kirk's RBI single off old battery mate Jordan Romano,  the Blue Jays were looking to make it two straight wins and notch their 9th series win of the season.  Chris Bassitt got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. George Springer was back in the field in RF after DH'ig yesterday (Alejandro Kirk served as DH today.) Jonatan Clase was in LF and Myles Straw was in CF. Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Myles Straw doubled scoring Davis Schneider 
• Two batters later, Tyler Heineman doubled home Straw
• A batter batter,  Bo Bichette hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Heineman 
• The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Straw singled scoring Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement
• Two batters, Heineman singled scoring Schneider and Straw 
• Jesus Luzardo pitching line: 3.2IP 9H 8R (all earned) 2BB 2K 61 pitches (38 for strikes)
• The Phillies got one back in the top of the 6th as Kyle Schwarber singled scoring Trea Turner
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Kirk singled scoring George Springer
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 7IP 5H 1R (earned) 2BB 6K 99 pitches (62 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 9 Phillies 1

My Take:

• Chris Bassit threw 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 6. He retired 9 of the first 11 batters he faced. Bassitt has been one of the pleasant surprises this season. The wily veteran has given the Blue Jays a chance to win in most of his starts and has pitched into the 6th inning in 10 of his 12 starts. No doubt he'll have teams looking to add the veteran starter in free agency in the off-season.
• The bullpen threw 2 perfect innings and Mason Fluharty recorded 2 strikeouts.
• The offense did most of the damage in the 2nd and 3rd innings, combining for 8 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. Bo Bichette (2-run HR), Myles Straw (3RBI, 2 runs scored) and Tyler Heineman (3RBI, 1 run scored) did the damage
• The Blue Jays have been doing well against lefty starters, something that has been an achilles heel in past seasons
• The Blue Jays were 5-8 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays hit the road again as they begin a weekend series in Minnesota. The Twins won the season series last year, but the Blue Jays outscored the Twins 31-22. It will be a bullpen day for the Blue Jays, who have not announced an opener yet. The Twins will counter with righty Bailey Ober.

Game #62 Philadelphia Phillies (37-24) v. Toronto Blue Jays (32-29)

 

Game #61 Philadelphia Phillies (37-24) @ Toronto Blue Jays (32-29) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the 9th to lift the Blue Jays to a 2-1 comeback win over the Phillies

After a tough loss due to a very rough start for Bowden Francis, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Alan Roden was in LF, Jonatan Clase was in CF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Addison Barger got the start at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays even the series? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Phillies opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Nick Castellanos whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right-center
• The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom of the 6th as Bo Bichette tripled scoring Andres Gimenez
• Mick Abel pitching line: 5.1IP 3H 1R (earned) 0BB 2K 78 pitches (52 for strikes)
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 2BB 5K 89 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays walked it off in the bottom of the 9th as Alejandro Kirk singled home Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Phillies 1 while walking 2 and striking out 5. 

My Take:

• Jose Berrios fired 6 solid innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while  while walking 2 and striking out 5. The most important stat was that he was able to ge through 6 innings. Bowden Francis got only 5 outs yesterday and the Blue Jays will need another bullpen day later in the week with the vacant 5th spot in the rotation coming up.
• The bullpen threw 3 shutout innings, allowing 1 hit, walking none and striking out 3. Jeff Homan was credited with the win
• The offense did just enough to prevail. Bo Bichette drove in a run with a triple and Alejandro Kirk walked it off against old battery mate Jordan Romano. 
• The Blue Jays were 2-5 with runners in scoring position
• They definitely need another starting pitcher and a bat that can produce consistently
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 9th series win of the season. Chris Bassitt starts against Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo

Game #61 Philadelphia Phillies (37-23) v. Toronto Blue Jays (31-29)