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| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 2-run HR in a 2-1 comeback win over the Cubs |
After dropping yesterday's game due to an inept offense, the Blue Jays were looking to notch their 21st series win (14th season series win of the season). Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Ty France at 1B. Addison Barger was back in the field at the hot corner after DH'ing yesterday. Davis Schneider was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Joey Loperfido was in RF. Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays notch their 21st series win and 14th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Cubs took the lead in the top of the 6th as Michael Busch whacked a solo blast to right-center
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 7th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Davis Schneider
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 7IP 5H 1R (earned) 1BB 3K 78 pitches (57 for strikes)
- Matthew Boyd pitching line: 7IP 2H 2R ( both earned) 1BB 5K 78 pitches (58 for strikes
- Jeff Hoffman threw a scoreless 9th for his 27h save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 2 Cubs 1
My Take:
- Both starters today matched each other almost pitch for pitch. Max Scherzer and Matthew Boyd both threw 78 pitches with Boyd throwing an extra strike, walking an extra batter and giving up his home run with a runner on base, whereas the bases were empty when Michael Busch went deep off Scherzer. Max Scherzer also surrender three extra base hits. There's no question that Scherzer should be on the playoff roster and really I'd have him start game two the way he is pitching.
- The bullpen threw 2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and walking a batter. Jeff Hoffman will and should be the closer the rest of the season and in the playoffs, but much like his predecessor Jordan Romano, Hoffman has a tendency to make things interesting in the 9th. Seranthony Dominguez got a huge strikeout to end the 8th.
- Vlad went deep in the 7th to give the Blue Jays the lead. The team will need more of that from him down the stretch
- The Blue Jays were 1-3 with runners in scoring position
- It was the Blue Jays 38th comeback win of the season. The 1992 team had 40 comeback wins and the 1993 team had 44 comeback wins.
- The Blue Jays also gained a half game on the idle Red Sox and Yankees, boosting their division lead to 5 games over the Red Sox and 6.5 games over the Yankees
- Today's game was over in 2 hours and 6 minutes. The game was already in the 6th inning by the time the game was an hour old. Roy Halladay was the starter in the fastest game in franchise history May 10, 2005 against the Royals. The game of baseball is very different than it was at that time. For one thing, both starters in that game threw complete games. Today, Scherzer and Boyd were both done after 7 innings and 78 pitches each. Another big difference is the pitch clock, which didn't exist in 2005. Games ending in under 2 hours were rare back then and the average game was over three hours. Today, you see more games finishing under three hours. Baseball is the only major sport where there is no game clock (aside from the pitch clock) dictating the length of the game. Each inning lasts however long it takes to record 3 outs. The MLB was forced to introduce the pitch clock and other measures to keep games relatively short since players often wasted a lot of time during games stepping out of the batter's box to adjust their batting gloves or pitchers would take forever when there were base runners on base, throwing over or holding the ball or taking their time with pitch selection. Also, pitch calling is largely done electronically now through pitch com, where as catchers had to flash signs with their fingers in 2005. Finally, there were generally more mound visits in 2005, which also slowed the game down.
- Up next, the Blue Jays face another tough test as the Texas Rangers come to town. The Blue Jays won the series in Texas back at the end of May, outscoring the Rangers 4-3. Chris Bassitt starts against Rangers righty Jacob DeGrom
