Game #10 Toronto Blue Jays (5-4) @ New York Mets (5-3)

 

Game #9 - Toronto Blue Jays (5-4) @ New York Mets (4-4) - game recap

 

Chris Bassitt threw 6.2 shutout innings in a losing effort as the Mets came from behind to walk-off the Blue Jays 3-2

After a rough 5-0 loss last night in the worst game offensively so far this season, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series. Righty Zach Pop and lefty Richard Lovelady both cleared waivers and are now free agents.  Pop was 5-5 with a 4.89 ERA in 90 appearances over parts of 3 seasons for the Blue Jays.  Lovelady was 0-1 with a 21.60ERA over 2 very rough appearances this season.  Chris Bassitt got the start tonight with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.  Anthony Santander got the half day off as DH with Alan Roden in LF. Myles straw was in CF and George Springer was in RF. Will Wagner was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays even the series in this early season test against the Mets? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 5th a Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  singled scoring Alan Roden
• Griffin Canning pitching line: 4IP 4H 1R (earned) 3BB 6K 89 pitches (60 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Bo Bichette doubled scoring Roden
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 6.2IP 4H 0R 0BB 9K 92 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Mets tied it up in the bottom of the 8th as Jesse Winker tripled scoring Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. George Springer was injured on the play after crashing into the RFwall
• The Mets walked it off in the bottom of the 9th on a sac fly by Francisco Lindor that scored Jose Siri
• Final score: Mets 3 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt pitched 6.2 strong shutout innings, scattering 4 hits, walking none and striking out 9. He had an out streak of 8 batters. He was efficient with his pitches and should have been allowed to finish the inning since the Blue Jays don't get an off-day until April 17
• The bullpen gave up three runs on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2 over the last 2.1 innings. Jeff Hoffman was the only pitcher to retire every batter faced, unfortunately the fly ball out was deep enough to cash in the winning run\
• Offensively, the Blue Jays got clutch hits from Vlad and Bo, but that was about it. They loaded the bases in the 5th with 1 out only to see Kirk strikeout and George Springer ground out to end the threat. Andre Gimenez struckout in the 9th with runners on 2nd and 3rd thanks to a wild pitch a pitch earlier.
• It was a rough game for George Springer, who struck out looking in the 4th on a pitch that looked like ball four, he misplayed a ball in the bottom half of the same inning that went for a triple, he grounded out to end the 6th with the bases loaded and to cap it off, he left the game in the 8th after crashing into the wall in RF. Luckily it appears that it was back spasms. Expect him to miss at least tomorrow's game.
• The Blue Jays were 2-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid and avoided being swept for the 1st time this season. Bowden Francis starts against Mets lefty David Peterson

Game #9 Toronto Blue Jays (5-3) @ New York Mets (4-3)

 

Game #8 - Toronto Blue Jays (5-3) @ New York Mets (4-3) - game recap

 

George Springer had a pair of hits in a 5-0 shutout loss to the Mets

After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened the road portion of the schedule with a trip to the big apple against the Mets, who figure to be strong contenders in the NL East after landing Juan Soto in the off-season. The Blue Jays were 35-46 on the road last season. The Mets won the season series last season, outscoring the Blue Jays 11-10. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Anthony Santander was in LF, George Springer, and Alan Roden was in RF. Will Wagner served as DH. Could the  Blue Jays extend the win streak to 5 games and start the road porton of the schedule on a winning note? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Mets opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Pete Alonso whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right
• Tylor Megill pitching line: 5.1IP 2H 0R 3BB 4K 82 pitches (48 for strikes)
• The Mets added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Juan Soto doubled scoring Francisco Lindor
• Two batters later, Brandon Niimo doubled home Soto 
• A batter later, Alonso scored on a sac fly by Starling Marte 
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5.1IP 2H 3R (all earned) 2BB 0K 87 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Final score: Mets 5 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman fired 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out none. Did the extra day of rest impact Gausman? He gave up a 2-run HR just 9 pitches into his outing today and he did not strike out a batter, unusual for Gausman, who's been a strikeout machine.
• The bullpen gave up 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2 over the last 2.2 innings. Tough outing for rookie southpaw Mason Fluharty, who didn't retire a batter. Then again, he was facing one of the tougher three batters in the league. Hindsight is 20/20 but maybe they should have either used Brandon Little or kept Gausman in an extra few batters.
• Offensively, the Blue Jays had their worst game of the season, getting shutout for the first time this season. They were unable to take advantage of an effectively wild Tylor Megill, who walked three batters.
• The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Chris Bassitt starts against Mets righty Griffin Canning

Game #8 Toronto Blue Jays (5-2) @ New York Mets (3-3)