Game #130 Toronto Blue Jays (63-66) @ New York Yankees (72-55)

Game #129 - Toronto Blue Jays (63-66) @ Tampa Bay Rays (76-51) - game recap

 

Shane Bieber threw 7 strong innings in a 5-1 win over the Rays 

After dropping yesterday's game due in large part to a disastrous play by Jesus Sanchez and a suboptimal Max Scherzer start. the Blue Jays were looking to escape Tampa Bay with their 17th series win of the season. Shane Bieber got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Daz Cameron was in LF and Myles Straw was in CF. Could the Blue Jays notch their 17th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the1st as Kazuma Okamoto belted a solo jack to left
• Andres Gimenez left the game prior to the bottom of the 4th with right hamstring tightness
• Same half inning, the Rays tied the game as Junior Caminero singled scoring Chandler Simpson
• The Blue jays retook the lead in the top of the 5th as Nathan Lukes whacked a solo blast to right
• Two batters later, Daz Cameron hammered a solo bomb to left
• Ian Seymour pitching line: 5IP 6H 3R and(all earned) 1BB 8K 90 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 7th as George Springer singled scoring Charles McAdoo and Cameron
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 7IP 4H 1R (earned) 0BB 7K 101 pitches (70 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Rays 1

My Take:

• Shane Bieber fired 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 7. He retired the first 9 batters he faced and 11 of the last 12. Bieber has really gotten into a rhythm and has looked much more like the pitcher that won the 2020 AL Cy Young after missing the first 2 months of the season with arm issues. If he keeps pitching like this, he's going to command big time money in free agency in the off season
• The bullpen held the Rays to a hit and a walk over the last 2 innings. Not sure if would have used closer Louis Varland in the 9th inning of a non-save situation with the Blue Jays likely to need him in New York.
• The Blue Jays are starting to hit for power with Kazuma Okamoto, Nathan Lukes and Daz Cameron all going deep.  George Springer also knocked in a pair with a clutch base hit. 
• There has to be concern about Andres Gimenez going down with a hamstring injury.  If he needs an IL stint, look for Davis Schneider to be recalled since he can play 2B or LF. 
• The Blue Jays were 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Rays were 3-1 on ABS challenges 
• The Blue Jays were 1-11 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, after the win today, the Blue Jays are just a half game back of the Twins for the 3rd WC spotand are tied (for the moment) with the Rangers, who are in a scoreless tie with the Nationals early in their game tonight and would gain a half game on the Blue Jays with a win. The Guardians (won today) are a half game back of the Blue Jays, the Orioles (currently losing to the Yankees) are a game back of the Blue Jays but will fall back a half game if they lose tonight. The Tigers, who were idle today, are also a game back of the Blue Jays (or 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Mariners are 3 back of the 3rd WC spot and losing to the Brewers, so their playoff hopes are dwindling fast.
• Up next, the Blue Jays head to the Bronx where they will try to keep up with the other teams in the wild card race. The Yankees and Blue Jays split the first 10 games of the season series with the Blue Jays outscoring the Yankees 36-35. It will be a bullpen day tomorrow with Brayden Fisher likely opening and Spencer Arrighetti possibly coming off the IL to make his Blue Jays debut. The Yankees will counter with righty Cam Schlittler

Game #129 Toronto Blue Jays (62-66) @ Tampa Bay Rays (76-50)

 

Game #129 - Toronto Blue Jays (62-66) @ Tampa Bay Rays (76-50) - game recap

 

Charles McAdoo drove in a pair of runs in a 7-6 loss to the Rays

After a huge win over the Rays yesterday thanks to the offense coming to life, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 17th series win of the season. Righty Matt Waldron was DFA'd and lefty Brendan Cellucci was selected to the MLB roster. Max Scherzer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Alejandro Kirk got the half day off as DH. Charles McAdoo was at the hot corner, Josh Smith was at 2B and Kazuma Okamoto was at 1B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 17th series win of the season?  Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Rsys opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Yandy Diaz belted a 2-run to Yandy Diaz to left-center; also scoring Junior Caminero
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 4th as Alejandro Kirk whacked a solo blast to left
• The Rays added a pair of runs in the botom half of the inning as Richie Palacios doubled scoring Diaz and Liam Hicks
• A batter later, Cedric Mulins scored on a sac bunt hit by Taylor Walls
• A batter after that, Chandler singled scoring Polacios
• A batter later, Walls scored on a ground ball hit by Caminero
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th as Charles McAdoo singled scoring Josh Smith
• Two batters later, Brandon Valenzuela scored on a sac fly by Nathan Lukes
• A batter later, Kirk singled scoring McAdoo
• A batter after that, Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Myles Straw
• Brett Bateman was pinch hit for in the top of the 5th as he left the game after pulling his hamstring running out a ground out in the top of the 3rd.
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 4IP 5H 7R (all earned) 3BB 1K 73 pitches (42 for strikes)
• Drew Rasmussen pitching line: 5IP 7H 5R (all earned) 2BB 5K 86 pitches (61 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as McAdoo singled scoring Smith
• Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless 9th for his 36th save of the season.
• Final score: Rays 7 Blue Jays 6 

My Take:-

• Max Scherze battled through 4 innings, giving up 7 runs on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 1. He was clearly unhappy with the horrible play by Jesus Sanchez that led to a 5 run inning that ended up being the difference in the game. At the same time, Scherzer needs to be able to limit the damage and he was unable to do that. The Blue Jays could have used another inning or two from the veteran righty.
• The bullpen held the Rays to three hits while walking none and striking out four over the last four innings. Paul Sewald and Mason Fluharty both retired every batter they faced
• The rejuvenated offense tried to rally but fell a run short. Alejandro Kirk (2RBI, including a solo HR), Charles McAdoo (2RBI) and Nathan Lukes and Kazuma Okamoto, who both drove in a run each, led the way
• The Blue Jayd were 1-2 on ABS challenges. The Rays didn't attempt any ABS challenges today.
• The Blue Jays were 3-7 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays are a game back of the Twins, who won today and a half gamew behind the Rangers, who were shut out by the Nationals for the 3rd WC apot. The Guardians, Royals and Tigers all lost and sit a half game back of the Blue Jays for the 3rd and final WC spot
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to escape Tampa Bay with their 17th series win of the season. Shane Bieber starts against Rays lefty Ian Seymour

Game #128 Toronto Blue Jays (62-65) @ Tampa Bay Rays (75-50)