Game #107 - Toronto Blue Jays (49-58) @ Washington Nationals (54-53) - game recap

 

Myles Straw scored a run and drove in a run in a 3-2 comeback win over the Nationals

After dropping yesterday's game due to another poor effort from the offense, the Blue Jays were looking to start the week with a win as they continued the road trip in Washington DC. The Blue Jays swept the season series vs. the Nationals, outscoring the Nationals 14-7 last season. Max Scherzer was reinstated from the 15-day IL (and got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate) and Brayden Fisher was placed on the bereavement list. Myles Straw got the start in LF. Could the Blue Jays  start the week with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Nationals opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Luis Garcia Jr. doubled scoring Nasim Nunez
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 3rd as Luis Urias hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• Two batters later, Ernie Clement doubled scoring Myles Straw
• Eddy Yean pitching line: 2.1IP 3H 2R (both earned) 0BB 0K 20 pitches (15 for strikes)
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 2.2IP 4H 1R (earned) 3BB 4K 75 pitches (44 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 4th as Straw singled scoring Kazuma Okamoto
• The Nationals got one back in the bottom of the 5th as Andres Chapparo whacked a solo blast to left
• Louis Varland threw a scoreless 9th for his 22nd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 3 Nationals 2

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 2.2 innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4, Would an extra rehab start have made a difference in his next MLB start? Perhsaps, but not likely with the way his 2026 season has gone. He loaded the bases in the 1st inning but managed to escape that jam. Second inning, he ran into more trouble but limited the damage to a run. Quite frankly he should retire. He has battled injuries this year and has been very ineffective when he has pitched. If he's concerned about moving up another place on the all-time strikeout list, he's one start away with the 4 strikeouts he got today putting him one strikeout away from tying Walter Johnson, who had 3509 strkeouts.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 9 over the last 6.2 innings. Mason Fluharty was credited with the win. Fluharty and Tyler Rogers both retired every batter they faced
• Myles Straw (run scored, RBI) and Jose Urias (solo HR) drove the offense.
• The Blue Jays were unsuccessful on boh ABS challenges. The Nationals were 1-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 3-7 with runners in scoring position. 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 13th series win and 5th season series win of the season. Shane Bieber starts against Nationals righty Cade Cavalli

Game # 107 - Toronto Blue Jays (48-58) @ Washington Nationals (54-52)

 

Relax mom....it's just a bone bruise....

Welcome...to Jurassic Park!!

Oops...I mean Nationals Park.

Tonight 42 year old Max Scherzer is starting so it was an honest mistake.

I guess we're just killin' time until the trade deadline.

One interesting thing to watch is the season strikeout record for hitters.

The current record is 170 jointly held by Matt Chapman and Jose Bautista.

Kaz Okamoto has a solid chance of topping that as he currently sits at 132.

Maybe they had nap before the game and will come out all guns a blazin' !

Hang around and find out...

JiTH Cares!!!

Even the most steeled of men have their emotional moments...

Let's check in on our own Man of Steal...Dabs...

Hmmm...must be thinking about Moreno and Gimenez...that would break any man's spirit.

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DabsCo the same people that brought you powdered Mayonnaise!

Here is tonight's scintillating selection!

and the 26th, the 27th, the 28th...you get the idea...

Game #106 - Toronto Blue Jays (48-58) @ Boston Red Sox (54-50) - game recap

 

Andres Gimenez drove in the Blue Jays only run in a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox

After a huge shutout win over the Red Sox thanks to a dominant complete game 1 hit shutout from Dylan Cease and a massive 3-run 3rd inning, part of a 5-run rally, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 game and notch their 13th series win and 4th season series win of the season. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF.  Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 13th series win and 4th season series win of the season. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Red Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Ceddanne Rafaela singled scoring Andruw Monasterio
• The Red Sox added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th as Jarren Duran singled scoring Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin
• Ranger Suaurez pitching line: 4IP 4H 0R 0BB 6K 64 pitches (42 for strikes)
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 6K 98 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Red Sox added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th as Jahmai Jonesdoubled scoring Duran and Monasterio
• Two batters later, Wilyer Abreu doubled home Jones
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 9th as Andres Gimenez singled scoring Daulton Varsho
• Final score: Red Sox 6 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman battled through 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6. Gausman gave up runs in the 3rd and 4th innings. He retired 5 of the first 6 batters he faced. It's likely a contending team will acquire him for pitching depth.
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1 over the last 2 innings. Two of the runs were charged to Brayden Fisher but lefty Brendon Little gave up the 2 run scoring hits. He is more consistent with getting the ball in the strike zone but batters aren't really being fooled by his pitches. Adam Macko also needs to adjust to the adjustments hitters are making against him.
• Offensively, the bats did not come through despite numerous chances to score. Andres Gimenez was stranded on 2nd base with with Davis Schneider and Nathan Lukes bother struck out looking. In the 4th inning, Alejandro Kirk and George Springer hit back to back singles and neither scored. Schneider, Lukes and Vlad were a combined 0-10 with 5 strikeouts.
• Alejandro Kirk was 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Red Sox were a perfect 3-3 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 1-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays head to Washingtom DC to take on the Nationals. The Blue Jays swept the season series last year, outscoring the Nationals 14-7. Max Scherzer starts against Nationals lefty Andrew Alvarez

Game # 106 - Toronto Blue Jays (48-57) @ Boston Red Sox (53-50)

 

The sweet music hit a sour note during my tenure as a Jay...

Ok...that's a lot better!

Entertaining baseball at last...

Some offense and a good old fashioned complete game shutout.

Of note: Cease's arm didn't fall off or spontaneously combust from going the distance.

The Jays most likely are cooked playoff wise but there's still fun to be had from screwing up other teams plans.

Let's continue to do so with another win over the Sox.

And now a word from JiTH Cares!

It seems that well known PITA IAO is house hunting.

We've dug out the ChronoViewer to peer into the immediate future...

Hmmm....a bit of a fixer upper...

Always go in knowing what you want.

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Just remember HiTH is brought to you by DabsCo...a division ShootMePlz Ltd.

Yes, DabsCo, the people that brought you Rutabaga Flavoured Sparkling Water...

And here is today's offering...

I'm not sure about that...I've seen some pretty ugly Mahjong brawls...

Game #105 - Toronto Blue Jays (48-57) @ Boston Red Sox (53-50) - game recap

 

Dylan Cease threw a complete game shutout in a 6-0 shutout win over the Red Sox

After dropping the opening game in the series due to a bad inning from reliever CJ Van Elk, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 17th series loss of the season. Dylan Cease got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Yohendrick Pinago was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 17th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Nathan Lukes
• Two batters later, George Springer belted a 3-run jack over the green monster in left; also scoring Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto
• Two batters later, Ernie Clement doubled scoring Daulton Varsho
• Sonny Gray pitching line: 5IP 10H 5R (all earned) 0BB 3K 75 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Andres Gimenez
• Dylan Cease pitching line: CG 9IP 1H 0R 3BB 3K 120 pitches (80 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 0

My Take:

• Dylan Cease fired a complete game shutout, giving up a hit, walking 3 and striking out 3. He was perfect through 4 innings and retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced. There were comcerns early on when his velocity was down significantly, but he made up for it with great command.
• The best thing is the bullpen got a much needed day off
• Offensively, George Springer went deep over the green monster for 3 runs, Vlad had a pair of clutch base hits and arguably the Blue Jays, most consistent hitter, Ernie Clement, capped off the 5-run 3rd inning with an RBI double
• Every starter except Yohendrick Pinago and Brandon Valenzuela had a hit and either scored a run or drove in a run
• The Red Sox were  0-2 on ABS challenges and Brandon Valenzuela successfully overturned the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 4-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 13th series win and 5th season series win of the season. Kevin Gausman starts against Red Sox lefty Ranger Suarez