Game #116 - Toronto Blue Jays (54-62) @ Chicago Cubs (67-49) - game recap

 

Dylan Cease threw 7 shutout innings in a 3-2 come-from-behind, extra innings loss to the Cubs

After a huge extra innings comback win thanks to a clutch 2-run HR off the bat of Ernie Clement, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win and 7th season series win of the season as they made a brief one day stop in Chicago to make up the June 22nd rainout at Wrigley Field. The two teams split the first 2 games of the series, with the Cubs outscoring the Blue Jays 22-10.  Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad remained out with soreness in his hamestring and back. Davis Schneider got the start in LF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Luis Urias got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win and 7th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring on a balk charged to Davd Peterson that scored Kazuma Okamoto
• Luis Urias was removed from the game with a hamstring injury prior to the bottom of the 4th 
• David Peterson piching line: 5IP 7H 1R (earned) 3BB 3K 89 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Andres Gimenez
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 7IP 2H 0R 1BB 10K 104 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Cubs tied it in the bottom of the 9th as Alex Bregman whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Pete Crow-Armstrong
• The Cubs walked it off on a throwing error by Brandon Valenzuela on a double steal that scored Crow-Armstrong
• Final: score: Cubs 3 Blue Jays 2 (11 innings)

My Take: 

• Dylan Cease fired 7 shutout innings, scattering a pair of hits, walking 1 and striking out 10. He retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced and the last 6 batters of the day. Cease was throwing some nasty pitches and absolutely dotting the corners of the strike zone. He's bee the team's best starting pitcher be far. 
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 over 3.1 innings. Louis Varland blew his first save of the season on a 2-run HR to the Cubs best hitter, Pete Crow-Armstrong. To be honest, this game should have been over sooner but Ernie Clement made a terrific leaping catch to end the 10th inning and Myles Straw bailed out Brendon Little, who took the loss by gunning down the ghost runner to start the 11th inning. Brayden Fisher retired every batter he faced
• The anemic offense scored a run on balk and Alejandro Kirk tacked on a run with an RBI single. There has to be a serious look into why every single player regressed so badly from last year. It\s alarming that we're in August and Vlad still doesn't have a home run in Toronto. The approach at the plate has to change and batters need to start being more patient.
• As if the team needs anymore adversity, Luis Urias hurt himself while running the bases.
• The Blue Jays were 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Cubs were 1-2 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were brutal and pathetic 1-19 wih runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays continue the road trip in Philadelphia. The Phillies took the series in Toronto 2 months ago, outscoring the Blue Jays 14-9. Jose Soriano makes his Blue Jays debut against Phillies righty Zack Wheeler

Game #116 Toronto Blue Jays (54-61) v. Chicago Cubs (66-49)

 

Game #115 - Toronto Blue Jays (54-61) @ Houston Astros (59-57) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement hit a go-ahead 2-run HR in the 10th inning in a 5-4 come-from-behind extra innings win over the Astros

After dropping yesterday\s game due to the bullpwn being unable to pick up for Trey Yesavage who hurt himself warming up for the 3rd inning, the Blue Jays were looking to notch their 15th series win of the season and earn the season series split. Trey Yesavage was placed on the 15-day IL with left knee inflammation. Righty Chad Dallas was optioned to AAA-ball. Chase Lee and Lazaro Estrada were recalled from AAA-ball Jameson Taillon got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Vlad got the complete day off with Kazuma Okamoto at 1B. Josh Smith was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays notch their 15th series win of the season and earn the season series split? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Astros opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Jose Altuve hammered a solo bomb to left
• Three batters later, Christian Walker doubled scoring Daulton Varsho.
• A batter later, Lamonte Wade Jr. singled home Walker
• Jameson Taillon pitching line: 4IP 6H 3R (all earned) 2BB 4K 80 pitches (49 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Myles Straw
• A batter later, Jesus Sanchez belted a 2-run jack to the second deck in right; also scoring Okamoto
• Hunter Brown pitching line: 6IP 3H 3R (all earned) 2BB 8K 93 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 10th as Ernie Clement hammered a 2-run bomb to left; also scoring Luis Urias 
• The Astros got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Yordan Alvarez singled scoring Jeremy Pena
• Chase Lee got the last 3 outs for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Astros 4 (10 innings)

My Take:

• Jameson Taillon battled through 4 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. Not the most efficient game with him needing an average of 20 pitches to get through 4 innings. It was really the 3rd inning where the Astros got to him, scoring 3 times on 4 hits. Other than that inning, he was able to pitch his way out of the jams he got into.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 5 over the last 6 innings. Louis Varland was credited with the win and Chase Lee got the save. Varland and Mason Fluharty retired every batter they faced.
• Offensively, Jesus Sanchez and Ernie Clement each hit a 2-run HR and Kazuma Okamoto knocked in the other run. The bats are still pretty ice cold with seven total base runners but at least the team is starting to get the timely hits that led to a near franchise record 49 comeback wins last year.
• Yandy Diaz was successful on the Astros only ABS challenge and Brandon Valenzuela was 1-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 2-3 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win and 8th season series win of the season as they make a one-game stop in Chicago to make up the rained-out June 22nd game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs and Blue Jays split the first 2 games in the series with the Cubs outscoring the Blue Jays 22-10. Dylan Cease starts against Cubs lefty David Peterson

Game #115 Toronto Blue Jays (53-61) v. Houston Astros (59-56)

Game #114 - Toronto Blue Jays (53-61) @ Houston Astros (59-56) - game recap

 

Myles Straw tripled home a run and later scored on a wild pitch in a 7-2 loss to the Astros

After eking out a win yesterday thanks to a strong effort from Shane Bieber, Brendon Litle and Trevor Rogers, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch theuir 15th series win of the season. With Jose Soriano reporting to the team, Lazaro Estrada was optioned to AAA-ball. Trey Yesavage got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 15th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 2IP 0H 0R 1BB 0K 27 pitches (16 for strikes)
• The Astros took the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Yainer Diaz singled scoring Jose Altuve
• A batter later, Cam Smith singled scoring Taylor Trammell
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th as Myles Straw triple scoring Andres Gimenez
• A batter later, Straw scored on a wild pitch by Hayden Wesneski
• The Astros retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Altuve singled scoring Yordan Alvarez
• A batter later, Trammell whacked a 3-run blast to right; also scoring Altuve and Christian Walker 
• Hayden Wesneski pitching line: 6IP 4H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 78 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Astros added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Altuve singled home Walker
• Final score: Astros 7 Blue Jays 2

 My Take:

• Well, there's the solution to the 6-man rotation dilemma. Trey Yesavage had his knee buckle on him warming up for the 3rd inning. It's really too bad since he was pitching well with just a walk in the first 2 innings. No doubt he'll be getting an MRI to determine the extent of any damage.
• The bullpen gave up 7 runs on 9 hits while walking 5 and striking out 4 over 6 innings. Chad Dallas was a disaster and will likely be DFA'd tomorrow since he won't be available to pitch for a few days after throwing 74 pitches. The Blue Jays need to see if Little can be a little more consistent, and besides, they don't exactly have a ton of lefty options in the bullpen after trading Adam Macko. Brayden Fisher and Mason Fluharty retired every batter they faced today.
• Offensively, the offense immediately responded to the runs the Astros scored in the 4th inning with Myles Straw taking full advantage of increased playing time after Daulton Varsho switched dugouts, with a triple and then hustling home on a wild pitch. Vlad was 0-3 with a walk but appeared to tweak something running to 1st base. Davis Schneider should be optioned to AAA-ball in favor of Yohendrick Pinago, who has been better offensively
• Alejandro Kirk was 0-2 on ABS challenges and Astros catcher Yandy Diaz was unsuccessful on the Astros only ABS challenge.
• The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 15th series win of the season and the season series split. Jameson Taillon makes his Blue Jays debut against Astros righty Hunter Brown