Game #24 - Toronto Blue Jays (13-11) @ Kansas City Royals (14-10) - game recap

 

Justin Turner scored a run and drove in a run in a losing effort as the Royals came from behind to edge the Blue Jays 3-2

After a solid win last night, thanks to clutch hits from Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho and stellar pitching from Yusei Kikuchi, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to two games. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (Justin Turner served as DH). Kevin Kiermaier was in CF and Daulton Varsho was in LF. Davis Schneider was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blur Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Justin Turner singled scoring George Springer
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th on a sac fly by Alejandro Kirk that scored Turner
• The Royals got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a missed catch error by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a ball hit by Kyle Isbel that scored Michael Massey
• Two batters later, Bobby Witt Jr. doubled scoring Isbel and Maikel Garcis
• Michael Wacha pitching line: 4IP 8H 2R (both earned) 3BB 4K 96 pitches (55 for strikes)
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6.2IP 7H 3R (none earned) 1BB 2K 99 pitches (65 for strikes)
• James MacArthur got the last 6 outs for his 5th save of the season
• Final score: Royals 3 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman battled through 6.2 innings, giving up 3 unearned runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. Vlad owes him an apology dinner after he missed a catch that should have ended the inning. Instead a run scored on the play and two batters later, the Royals had a one run lead. Gausman has been pitching better lately after a rough first few starts of the season
• The bullpen gave up a hit in the last 1.1 innings. Tim Mayza is also looking better his last few relief appearances
• Kevin Kiermaier left the game with left hip flexor discomfort. Given his injury history with the hip, expect the Blue Jays ro be cautious with him.
• Offensively, Justin Turner did the damage driving in a run and scoring another. Turner has been the Blue Jays best hitter by far.
• The Blue Jays were 2-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to retake the series lead. Yariel Rodriguez starts against Royals righty Alec Marsh

Game #24 Toronto Blue Jays (13-10) @ Kansas City Royals (13-10)

Game #23 - Toronto Blue Jays (13-10) @ Kansas City Royals (13-10) - game recap

 

Bo Bichette hit a 3-run triple in a 5-3 win over the Royals

After a tough loss yesterday thanks to subpar performances from relievers Trevor Richards and Nate Pearson, the Blue Jays were looking to start the week with a win as they continued the road trip in Kansas City. The Blue Jays win 6 of the 7 games in last year's season series, outscoring the Royals 33-20. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got the half day off as DH with Justin Turner at 1B. Kevin Kiermaier got the full day off with Daulton Varsho in CF and Davis Schneider in LF. IKF was at the hot corner and Cavan Biggio in 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the week with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Bo Bichette tripled scoring Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the th as Daulton Varsho drilled a 2-run jack to right; also scoring Justin Turner
• The Royals got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Maikel Garcia hammered a 2-run bomb to left; also scoring Dairon Blanco
• Brady Singer pitching line: 6IP 5H 5R (all earned) 3BB 5K 107 pitches (65 for strikes)
• Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 0BB 4K 81 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Royals got one back in the bottom of the 9th as Kyle Isbel annihilated a solo bomb off the right foul pole
• Jordan Romano got the last 3 outs for his 3rd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Royals 3

My Take:-run 

• Yusei Kikuchi was excellent again, giving up a pair of runs on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 4 over 6 innings.There has to be some concern about his health. For the second straight start, Kikuchi received a visit from trainer Jose Ministral. Kikuchi finished the inning, but did not start the 7th inning, even though he had thrown just 81 pitches. He cruised through the first 5 innings, giving up just one hit and needing just 48 pitches. By contrast, he threw 33 pitches in the 6th inning, and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits. Hopefully whatever is ailing him is minor, but the Blue Jays should make him skip a start if he is injured. The Blue Jays have enough pitchers dealing with injuries with 3 of their top prospects potentially heading for tommy john surgery
• All three relievers gave up a hit and struck out a batter in their inning of work. Jordan Romano's hit against left the ball park. It was very encouraging to see Erik Swanson have a relatively stress free inning
• Daulton Varsho and Bo Bichette were the offensive heroes tonight with both getting bases clearing hits. Bichette hit a triple in the 3rd inning for 3 runs, Varsho went yard for the 6th time in 10 games in the 6th inning.
• Every Blue Jays starter except Davis Schneider and George Springer reached base and all but Springer, Schneider and Justin Turner had a hit
• The Blue Jays were 1-8 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try for two straight wins. Kevin Gausman starts against Royals righty Michael Wacha

Game #23 Toronto Blue Jays (12-10) @ Kansas City Royals (13-9)

Game #22 - Toronto Blue Jays (12-10) @ San Diego Padres (12-12) - game recap

 

Davis Schneider hit a solo HR and drove in a second run in a losing effort as the Padres came from behind to double up the Blue Jays 6-3

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After a solid win by the Blue Jays thanks to a three-run HR and key insurance run from the red-hot Daulton Varsho, as well as lights out pitching from ace Jose Berrios and closer Jordan Romano, the Blue Jays were going for their 3rd straight win and 1st series sweep of the season. Chris Bassitt got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to three games and complete their first sweep of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Padres opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Manny Machado singled scoring Jake Cronenworth. George Springer was charged with a fielding error on the play
• The Blue Jays tied it up in the top of the 2nd as Davis Schneider belted a solo jack to left-center
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 3rd as Ernie Clement hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
• The Padres tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Xander Bogaerts whacked a solo blast to left-center
• The Padres took the lead in the bottom of the 6th on a bases loaded walk to Luis Campusano that forced in Jurickson Profar
• A batter later, Ha-Seong Kim scored on a catcher's interference call against Danny Jansen on a ball hit by Tyler Wade
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 5.1 IP 6H 4R (3 earned) 3BB 4K 93 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 7th on a ground out hit by Schneider that scored Justin Turner
• Joe Musgrowe pitching line: 7IP 5H 3R 0BB 3K 99 pitches (67 for strikes)
• The Padres added a run in the bottom of the 8th on a bases loaded walk to Bogaerts that forced in Profar
• A batter later, Kim scored on a sac fly by Fernando Tatis Jr.
• Robert Suarez pitched a scoreless 9th for his 7th save of the season
• Final score: Padres 6 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt battled through 5.1 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned,  and 2 after he left the ball game) on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4. He got himself out of a bases loaded jam in the 1st inning by picking off Jurickson Profar at 2nd base. That started a streak of five straight outs that ended when Xander Bogaerts took him yard in the 3rd inning. Bassitt got fortunate to escape a second bases loaded jam in the 5th inning when Davis Schneider made a great leaping grab on a liner that had two runs written all over it. Unfortunately, Trevor Richards allowed both inherited runners to score. It seems like this then through the rotation will feature starters battling to pitch with less than their best stuff. 
• The bullpen was unable to do its job today.  It started with Trevor Richards allowing both inherited runners to score when he gave up two walks. To be fair,  he should have been out of the inning with just a one run deficit but Danny Jansen got a bit too close to the batter and was called for catcher interference. Nate Pearson was fortunate this one didn't turn into a blowout. After he walked in a run,  Pearson left a pitch right down the middle and Fernando Tatis Jr. just missed a grand slam. Instead, it went for a loud out and an easy sac fly. Pearson and Richards walked a  combined 6 batters over the last 2.2 innings. Both the threw over 30 pitches and likely won't be available for the series opener in Kansas City tomorrow
• Davis Schneider was the offensive hero today, driving in two, including himself on a solo HR. Ernie Clement gave the Blue Jays a brief lead in the 2nd inning with a no-doubter. After that home run, ten of the next twelve Blue Jays were retired and Musgrowe faced the minimum in that time span thanks to Bo Bichette getting caught stealing and Vlad hitting into an inning ending double play
• The Blue Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays continue the road trip in Kansas City. The Blue Jays win 6 of the 7 games in last year's season series, outscoring the Royals 33-20. Yusei Kikuchi starts against Royals righty Brady Singer.