Game #66 - Baltimore Orioles (31-35) @ Toronto Blue Jays (32-34) - game recap

 

Brandon Valenzuela drove in a pair of runs and scored once in a 6-4 comeback win over the Orioles

After a huge win thanks to Ernie Clement having a huge day at the plate and in the field, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 9th series win of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Yohendrick Pinago was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 9th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Orioles opened the scoring in the top of the 5th as Colton Cowser smacked a solo blast to right-center and into the Orioles bullpen
• Three batters later, Blaze Alexander doubled scoring Jackson Holliday
• A batter later, Taylor Ward whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Holliday
• Kevin Gausman pitching line 5IP 5H 4R (all earned) 0BB 5K 93 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Yohendrick Pinago hammered a solo bomb to the 3rd deck in right
• Four batters later, Jesus Sanchez scored on a ground out hit by Brandon Valenzuela
• A batter later, Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Ernie Clement
• A batter after that, Andrea Gimenez doubled scoring Okamoto
• A batter later, Nathan Lukes singled home Gimenez
• Shane Bas pitching line: 5.2IP 7H 5R (1 earned) 1BB 3K 81 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Valenzuela belted a solo jack to right
• Louis Varland threw a scoreless 9th for his 11th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Orioles 4

My Take:

• It was another subpar performance for Kevin Gausman, who notoriously struggles against the O's, the team that drafted him in 2012 and that he played for his first 5.5 seasons. Today, he gave up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 5. He retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced before the Orioles finally got to him. Unfortunate inning for Gausy, who has been regressing this season. He will likely be traded at the deadline if the Blue Jays are out of the playoff race. 
• The bullpen threw 4 scoreless innings, giving up 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 5. The rubber arms in Tyler Rogers and Louis Varlannd combined to get the last 8 outs and Rogers got out of the mess created by Connor Seabold in the 7th inning. Adam Macko shoud be tried in some higher leverage situations.
• The offense rallied for 5 runs in the 6th inning and Brandon Valenzuela is doing absolutely everything in his power to be Alejandro Kirk's backup in a week or so. He drove in a pair, including a massive home run in the 8th for a 2-run cushion. Also made a nice play in the field. Very telling he started 3 straight games - something not seen very often with such a physically demanding position
• The Orioles successfully overturned both their ABS challenges and the Blue Jays were unsuccessful on both their ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 2-6 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays welcome the Phillies to town. The Phillies won the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 32-20. Patrick Corbin starts against Phillies lefty Christopher Sanchez

Game #66 Baltimore Orioles (31-34) v. Toronto Blue Jays (31-34)

 

Game #65 - Baltimore Orioles (31-34) @ Toronto Blue Jays (31-34) - game recap

Ernie Clement scored three runs and drove in three runs, including a 3-run HR in a 6-4 comeback win over the Orioles

After an ugly blowout loss yesterday due to Trey Yesavage and the bullpen imploding, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season. It was a bullpen day with Brayden Fisher serving as the opener and Patrick Valenzuela behind the plate. Myles Straw got the start in CF. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Brayden Fisher pitching line: 1IP 1H 0R 1BB 2K 18 pitches (10 for strikes)
• The Orioles opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Colton Cowser belted a solo jack to right-center
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 2nd as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Ernie Clement
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Clement whacked a 3-run blast to left; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Jesus Sanchez
• Three batters later, Andres Gimenez singled scoring Brandon Valenzuela. Okamoto was thrown out at 3rd base on the play
• Kyle Bradish pitching line: 4IP 9H 5R (all earned) 3BB 3K 81 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th on a sac fly by Valenzuela that scored Clement
• The Orioles got a pair back in the top of the 6th as Pete Alonso smacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right-center and into the Orioles bullpen; also scoring Gunnar Henderson
• The Orioles got one back in the top of the 7th as Blaze Anderson smacked a solo blast to left-center
• Louis Varland threw a perfect 9th for his 10th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Orioles 4

My Take:

• Brayden Fisher pitched his way out of a jam after a leadoff walk and base hit to the first 2 batters to start the game. Hopefully this is the last time a bullpen game is needed. Dylan Cease should make his next start barring a setback with the hamstring and Max Scherzer should be set in a start or two. Shane Bieber has started a rehab assignment and could be back either during the next road trip or the next homestand. Just hate seeing a reliever wasted right away.
• The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 10 over the last 8 innings. Jeff Hoffman continues to be a frustration as he gave up a 2-run HR after entering the game. It's getting to the point where he might be the odd man out when Yimi Garcia is ready to play again. You can't get much lower leverage than a 5-run lead and a runner on 1st that should have been erased with an inning ending double play. Louis Varland is turning into the Blue Jays best reliever and arguably should have been the closer right from the start of the season.
• It was the Ernie Clement show today, scoring three times and driving in three on a 3-run blast in left and he made a fantastic defensive play at 2B. He's been invaluable to the team with the ability to play the hot corner, 2nd base and SS. His bat has been inconsistent at times this season, but he has the ability to be a difference msaker at the plate. He's a bit of a quirky hitter too since he likes to use other players bats when things aren't going his way. Hey whatever works!
• Adley Rutschman was 1-1 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays did not challenge any pitches today
• The Blue Jays were 3-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 9th series win of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Orioles righty Shane Baz

Game #65 Baltimore Orioles (31-33) v. Toronto Blue Jays (30-34)

Game #64 - Baltimore Orioles (31-33) @ Toronto Blue Jays (30-34) - game recap

 

Brandon Valezuela hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the Orioles came from behnid to rout the Blue Jays  13-3

After salvaging a game against the mighty Chris Sale on a team effort offensively, the Blue Jays returned home as they opened a 9-game, 10-day homestand against the Orioles. The two teams split the 4 games in Baltimore a week ago with the Orioles outscoring the Blue Jays 21-18. Chad Dallas was optioned to AAA-ball and Simeon Woods Richardson reported to the team after the trade with the Twins on Wednesday. Trey Yesavage got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Jesus Sanchez was in RF. Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Orioles opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Adley Rutschman hammered a solo bomb to  dead center
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that scored George Springer
• Daulton Varsho left the game prior to the bottom of the 4th with wrist inflammation
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 5th as Brandon Valenzuela belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Kazuma Okamtoto
• The Orioles tied it in the top of the 6th as Rutschman doubled scoring Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson
• A batter later, Jeremiah Jackson doubled scoring Rutschman
• A batter after that, Coby Mayo hammered a 2-run bomb to the second deck in left
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 5.2IP 5H 6R (all earned) 2BB 5K 91 pitches (58 for strikes)
• Brandon Young pitching line: 6.1IP 7H 3R (all earned) 0BB 4K 85 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Orioles added a run in the top of the 8th as Jackson singled scoring Rutschman
• Two batters later, Colton Cowser singled scoring Jackson
• A batter later, Mayo scored on a ground out hit by Leody Taveras
• The Orioles added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Rutschman singled scoring Taylor Ward and Henderson
• A batter later, Rutschman and Pete Alonso scored on a throwing error by Okamoto on a ball hit by Taveras
• Final score: Orioles 13 Blues Jays 3

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage battled through 5.2 innings, giving up 6 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. He retired 8 in a row but lost it in the 6th inning, when he was tagged for 5 runs, capped by  a 2-run HR hit by Coby Mayo. Yesavage is still pretty new to the MLB, but teams are building a playbook to use against him, Command was an issue today. Could he be pitching though an injury?
• The bullpen gave up 7 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4 over the last 3.1 innings. Tyler Heineman was the only pitcher to retire every batter he faced.  Adam Macko was the only other reliever to not give up any runs.
• Offensively, the Blue Jays got a 2-run HR off the bat of Brandon Valenzuela, who is doing everything he can to make the decision hard when Alejandro Kirk comes off the IL, and a sac fly from Vlad.
• The Blue Jays cannot catch a break on the injury front. Daulton Varsho had to leave the game with inflammation in his wrist. Backup options are Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes and George Springer in a break glass emergency where the latter 2 got hurt.
• Orioles pitcher Yennier Cano was unsuccessful on the only ABS challenge of the night
• The Blur Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season. It'll be a bullpen day for the Blue Jays with Spencer Miles expected to factor in heavily. The Orioles will counter with righty Kyle Bradish