Game #89 - Toronto Blue Jays (42-47) @ Seattle Mariners (46-44) - game recap

 

Brayden Fisher struck out the side in an 11-0 shutout loss to the Mariners

After a win yesterday on the strength of 7 excellent innings from Dylan Cease and a 2-run 3rd inning rally, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 11th series win of the season. Shane Bieber got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Sean Keys at 1B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 11th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Mariners opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Victor Robles singled scoring Cole Young
• Three batters later, Randy Arozarena hammered a grand slam to left; also scoring Robles, Colt Emerson and JP Crawford
• The Mariners added a pair ofd runs in the bottom of the 5th as Dominic Canzone belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Arozarena
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 4IP 6H 7R (all earned) 3BB 3K 89 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Mariners added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Canzone singled scoring Emerson
• A batter later, Cal Raleigh drilled a 3-run blast to right; also scoring Canzone and Arozarena
• Logan Gilbert pitching line: 7.1IP 1H 0R 0B 7K 91 pitches (63 for strikes)
• Final score: Mariners 11 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Shane Bieber ws lit up for 7 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3 over 4 innings. The 2nd inning was a complete disaster for him which he barekly escaped, needing 44 pitches, giving up 5 runs in the inning, capped by a grand slam from Randy Arozarena, who stopped to play rocks paper scissors with the first base coach during the home run trot. Bieber came out for the 4th and gave up a 2-run HR to end his day. It has been a struggle to find consistent form for the veteran righty after missing te first couple of months of the season with injury.
• The bullpen gave up a further 4 runs on 5 hits with 0 walks and  6 strikeouts over the last 4 innings. Brayden Fisher, who struck out the side in the 8th inning, and Myles Straw both retired every batter they faced.
• Not much to say about the offense, that managed one bloop single to break up the no hitter and perfect game on a day where Logan Gilbert was pulling his best Greg Maddux, needing basically 10 pitches to get through every inning. To be fair, he was nasty today with his fastball consistently touching 97/98 MPH. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to a nice pitching performance
• The Blue Jays were 1-1 on ABS challenges. The Mariners did not attempt an ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays did not get a runner into scoring position today
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to notch their 11th series win of the season. Trey Yesavage starts against Mariners righty Emerson Hancock

Game #89 - Toronto Blue Jays (42-46) @ Seattle Mariners (45-44)

 

I Pitched for the Jays....and I was not good.

I hope today's game makes up for Canada's loss in the World Cup...

I also hope we actually get some offense going.

Once Dabs gets that propane we're all gonna show Fergus how to party!

Game #88 - Toronto Blue Jays (42-46) @ Seattle Mariners (45-44) - game recap

 

After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays began a west coast swing in Seattle against the Mariner, a rematch of the ALCS that propelled the Blue Jays to an opportunity for their 3rd world series of which they fell inches short. In the regular season, the Blue Jays won the season series outscoring the Mariners 31-24. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as Wednesday's Canada Day blowout against Bo Bichette and the Mets. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and start te west coast swing with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Sean Keys
• Two batters later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled home Gimenez
• Luis Castillo pitching line; 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 101 pitches (712 for strikes) 
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 1BB 9K 102 pitches (70 for strikes)
• Louis Varland threw a scoreless 9th for his 18th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Mariners 0

My Take:

• Dylan Cease fired 7 shutout innings, scattering 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 9.  He hit into a jam in the bottom of the 3rd but pitched his way out of it witth the help of a nice double play executed behind him. That was really his only stressful inning and Cease retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced
• The bullpen held the Mariners to a walk and a hit while striking out 3 over the last 2 innings. Hoffman was placed on the highest leverage situation he's been in for a while, pitching the 8th with a 2- run lead. Hopefully John Schneider keeps him where he is and doesn't try to make him a closer again.
• The sputtering offense got two clutch base hits off the bats of Vlad and Andres Gimenez. Maybe just maybe Vlad is starting to slowly turn it around, but he is still executing far below what one should expect someone paid aikm to stars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, who have been earning their mega deals a lot better. Vlad basically had his career year in 2021; a year where the Blue Jays were playing their home games in minor league ballparks due to the COVID-19 restrictions. He is almost certainly playing through something and should seriously consider an IL stint to get over whatever the ailment is so he can better help the team. No one should be questioning his commitment to trying to improve - Guerrero Jr. has been spent hours in the batting cage - perhaps too much time.  Maybe he should try some video sessions to try and find the flaw in his swing.
• The Mariners Randy Arozarena was unsuccessful in both his ABS challenges and Alejandro Kirk successfully overturned the Blue Jays only ABS challenge.  Mariners manager Dan Wilson can't be happy that Arozarena blew both their ABS challenges
• The Blue jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 11th series win of the season. Shane Bieber starts against Mariners righty Logan  Gilbert 

Game #88 - Toronto Blue Jays (41- 46) @ Seattle Mariners (45 -43)

 

Hey Cito, my swing doesn't need to be fixed.

Time for a little JiTH after dark baseball.

The embark on a nine game west coast road swing.

Without getting too dire this trip could pretty much sum up the season for the team as they head into the all star break.

So with everyone not having any duties and responsibilities to attend to settle in and enjoy some left coast baseball.

Game #87 - NY Mets (36-51) @ Toronto Blue Jays (41-46) - game recap

 

Sean Keys hit a 3-run HR for his first career HR in a 9-3 rout over the Mets

After a shutout loss yesteday due to another lacklustre effort by the offense, the Blue Jays were looking to notch their 10th series win of the season and extend their winning streak on Canada Day to 2 games. George Springer was placed on the paternity list and Jonathan Clase was recalled from AAA-ball. It was a bullpen day with Brayden Fisher starting and Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the lineup at 1B after being removed from yesterday's lineup with back tightness. Kazuma Okamoto was also back at the hot corner after a day off yesterday. Ernie Clement was at 2B and Sean Keys served as DH. Could the Blue Jays notch their 10th series win of the season and extend their winning streak on Canada Day to 2 games? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Nathan Lukes
• Brayden Fisher pitching line: 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K 14 pitches (7 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Ernie Clement doubled scoring Okamoto
• A batter later, Sean Keys whacked a 3-run blast to the opposite field in left and into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Clement and Alejandro Kirk
• Freddy Peralta pitching line: 4IP 7H 5R (all earned) 3BB 4K 91 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Two batters later, Myles Straw smacked a 3-run blast to left-center; also scoring Varsho and Kirk
• The Mets got a pair back in the top of the 8th as Carson Benge belted a 2-run jack to the opposite field in left-center; also scoring Brett Baty
• The Mets got one back in the 9th inning as Francisco Lindor hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
• Patrick Corbin pitched the last 5 innings for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 9 Mets 3

My Take:

• The Blue Jays were forced, due to a struggling Patrick Corbin who was moved to the bullpen, to have another bullpen day. Brayden Fisher pitched the first inning, walking a batter on 14 pitches. He might have started the 2nd inning, but the offense was at bat a long time and the team had a couple of pitchers who could go a few innings today.
• The two pitchers in question were Spencer Miles, who pitched three shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk. Corbin notched the 5-inning save and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits. Both relievers struck out 5 batters each. Kudos to both for saving the rest of the bullpen for the upcoming west coast road trip.
• The offense exploded n a big way just like last year when they pumped 12 runs on the board against the Yankees. Today, rookie Sean Keys went the opposite way for his first career HR in the 3rd inning and Myles Straw added 3 more in a similar spot in the 7th inning. Up and down the lineup everyone contributed
• Everyone in the starting lineup except Yohendrick Pinago reached base and all but Pinago and Andres Gimenez had a hit
• Alejandro Kirk was unsuccessful on the only ABS challenge of the day
• The Blue Jays were 5-9 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays head to Seattle for a rematch of last year's ALCS that propelled the Blue Jays to an opportunity for their 3rd world series of which they fell inches short. In the regular season, the Blue Jays won the season series outscoring the Mariners 31-24. Dylan Cease starts for the Blue Jays. The Mariners haven't set their rotation for the series yet.