Game #83 Texas Rangers (41-42) Blue Jays (39-44) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk hit aa solo HR, his 50th career hit, in a 7-4 loss to the Rangers

After another loss due to an ugly start from Patrick Corbin, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 4-game skid anrd avoid their 12th series loss of  the season. Infielder Sean Keys was added to the MLB roster (and got the start at 1B with Vlad getting the half  day off as DH), Davis Schneider was optioned to AAA-ball, Jesus Sanchez was placed on the 10-day IL with an ankle sprain and Yohendrick Pinago was recalled from AAA-ball (and got the start in LF). Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid and avoid their 12th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights: 

• The Rangers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Jake Burger singled scoring Brandon Nimmo
• The Rangers added a run in the top of the 5th as Burger singled scoring Josh Jung
• Two batters later, Alejandro Osuna singled scoring Nimmo and Burger 
• A batter later,  Elias Diaz doubled scoring Ezequiel Duran and Osuna
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 4R (all earned) 5BB 10K 107 pitches (62 for strikes)
• Cal Quantrill pitching line: 4IP 2H 0R 1BB 5K 55 pitches (36 for strikes)
• The Blue jays got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Yohendrick Pinago hammered a 2-run run bomb to right-center; also scoring Ernie Clement
• The Rangers added a run in the top of the 6th as Corey Seager smacked a solo blast to right-center and into the Rangers bullpen
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Alejandro Kirk belted s solo jack to left
• Four batters later, Andres Gimenez singled scoring Sean Keys
• Tyler Alexander threw a perfect 9th for his 3rd save of the season
• Final score: Rangers 7 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Dylan Cease battled through 4.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits while walking 5 and striking out 10. Not a great 1st inning, walking 3 batters, but at least he was able to limit the damage to 1 run. Not so much in the 5th when the Rangers scored 5 times in the inning, three of which were charged to Cease. Good sign he was racking up the strikeouts. Locate the ball a bit more and maybe he prevents a few baserunners.
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3 over the last 4.1 innnings. Mason Fluharty was only able to retire one batter and Brayden Fisher was taken deep the next inning to put the game out of reach. None of the relievers retired every batter they faced.
• What to do with Vlad. 0-5 today and not hustling to first meant a double play that could havve been prevented had he run with a bit of effort. He should definitely be moved down the order and maybe get a day off tomorrow. Alejandro Kirk (solo HR) and Yohendrick Pinago (2-run HR) did the damage offensively
• Alejandro Kirk was 3-1 on ABS challenges and Rangers catcher Elias Diaz was 2-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 2-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 5 game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time this season. Shane Bieber starts against Rangers righty Kumar Rocker

Game #83 - Texas Rangers (40-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (39-43)

 

Best stuff in the organization...

This team is maddening as all hell. 

From .500 to a four game losing streak.

I've chilled on the .500 thing....let's get out of 1st without giving up 3 or more runs....baby steps.

As you can see they've called up Dab's flavour of the second: Sean Keys.

Pinango is back and whipping boy Sanchez is on the IL.

Hot Dog Jr. has been optioned back to AAA.

And now some sad news to report...

If you've read the game re-cap thread you'll see that beloved poster IAO has left us permanently and will never....hhmmm??....what's that?

FFS..

And since we've never determined IAO's gender conclusively...

Lastly, I'll leave you with some solid advice for the Jays...

Game #82 - Texas Rangerss (40-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (39-43) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 2-run double in a 5-4 loss to the Rangers

After a loss due to an ugly start from ace Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and snap the 3-game skid. Lefty Adam Macko was recalled from AAA-ball and righty Simeon Woods Richardson was DFA'd. Patrck Corbin got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF and Daulton Varsho was in CF. Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B.

Game Highlights:

• The Rangers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Brandon Nimmo doubled scoring Wyatt Langford
• Two batters later, Justin Foscue singled scoring Josh Jung
• A batter later, Ezequiel Duran singled home Nimmo
• The Rangers added a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd as Fosque hammered a 2-run bomb to the 3rd deck in right; also scoring Jake Burger
• Patrick Corbin pitching line: 4.1IP 7H 5R (all earned) 1BB 5K 94 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Nathan Eovaldi pitching line: 7IP 5H 0R 1BB 9K 92 pitches (59 for strikes)
• The Blue jays got a pair back in the bottom of the 9th as Vladimir Gurrero Jr. doubled scoring Andres Gimenez and George Springe 
• A batter later, Kazuma Okamoto hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also snoring Guerrero Jr
• Jacob Latz threw a scoreless 9th for his 16th save of the season
• Final score: Rangers 5 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Patrick Corbin battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5. Corbin put the Blue Jays behind instantly, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and a hit batter in the opening inning. Justin Fosque took him deep for 2 more runs against in the 3rd inning. He is likely the move when Max Scherzer returns. Perhaps they need to use him as a bulk reliever like they did with Eric Lauer.
• The bullpen threw 4.2 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits, walking 2 and striking out 5. None of the relievers retired every batter they faced. You have to wonder if the Blue Jays consider swapping Corbin and Spencer Miles in 5 days. Corbin is simply not consistently getting batters out and Miles has done well as a fifth starter/platoon guy. The team needs to do something with the rotation being so inconsistent, other than Dylan Cease.
• For the second straight night, a late game rally by the offense fell short a run. Vlad (2-run double) and Kazuma Okamoto (2-run HR) did the damage. I can see hitting coach David Popkins being a scapegoat if the Blue Jays miss the playoffs
• The Rangers were 1-2 on ABS challenges and Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela was unsuccessful on both ABS challenges he attempted
• The Blue Jays were 2-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 4-game skid and avoid losing their 12th series of the season. Dylan Cease starts against Rangers righty Cal Quantrill

Game #82 - Texas Rangers (39-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (39-42)

 

What Blue Jays record do I hold?

Two steps forward eight steps back.

Let's try to get above .500 before the end of this homestand....plz??

Adam Macko is back and SWR is DFA'd...baseball is a funny sport.

On the bright side at least Sanchez isn't in the.....oh...shit.

Game #81 - Texas Rangers (39-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (39-42) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto hit a 2-run HR in the 9th in a 6-5 loss to the Rangers

After dropping a winnable series thanks to a leaky bullpen and the inept offence, the Blue Jays were looking to open the next series against the Texas Rangers with a win. The Blue Jays took the season series last year, outscoring the Rangers 28-20. Ace Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Myles Straw was in CF. Ernie Clement got the start at SS. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend before Canada Day with a win and snap the 2-game skid? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Rangers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Joc Pederson hammered a solo bomb to the 3rd deck in right
• The Rangers added 3 runs in the top of the 3rd as Wyatt Langford whacked a 3-run blast to left-center; also scoring Nicky Lopez and Pederson
• Three batters later, Jake Burger smacked a 2-run blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Corey Seager
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 5th on a sac fly by Davis Schneider that scored Kazuma Okamoto
• A batter later, Myles Straw doubled scoring Alejandro Kirk and Nathan Lukes
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 10H 6R (all earned) 2BB 4K 99 pitches (67 for strikes)
• MacKenzie Gore pitching line: 7IP 4H 3R (all earned) 1BB 5K 98 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom of the 9th as Okamoto hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Ernie Clement
• Jacob Latz got the last 3 outs for his 15th save of the season
• Final score: Rangers 6 Blue Jays 5

My Take:-

• Kevin Gausman battled through 6 innings, giving up 6 runs on 10 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. It's troubling the decline Gausman has had this season. Last year, he was consistently getting strikeouts and pitching quality starts of 3 runs or less in at least 6 innings. He has been getting hit hard this season, getting taken deep three times tonight for the 6 runs against. Hopefully this is an age-related regression and Gausman isn't playing through an injury.
• Simeon Wood Richardson threw 3 scoreless innings walking 4 and striking out 1. Spencer Miles and SWR will be invaluable if they can eat innings to allow the heavily used relievers such as Jeff Rogers, Mason Fluharty and Louis Varland days off. Getting fresh arms at the trade deadline will be crucial.
• Kazuma Okamoto, who should be an all-star as a reserve if not voted as a starter, came up clutch again with a 2-run bomb to straightaway center to pull the Blue Jay within a run in a game they had no business being in with the inept offense. Myles Straw also doubled in a pair to put the Blue Jays within 3 runs in the 5th inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer were a combined 0-8 with 3 strikeouts. If the two have any integrity, they will decline being a starter in the all-star game. The all-star game - and the starter selections, at times amount to a popularity contest and don't necessatily reflect the best players that season. Anyway, the team needs Vladdy and Springer at their very best post-all star break since they will be fighting for a wild card spot.
• The Blue Jays successfully overturned both their ABS challenges and Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka was 1-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 1-3 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and snap the 3-game skid. Patric Corbin starts against Rangers righty Nathan Eovaldi