Wildcard Round Game #1 Tigers (0-0) @ Guardians (0-0), Padres (0-0) @ Cubs (0-0), Red Sox (0-0) @ Yankees (0-0), Reds (0-0) @ Dodgers (0-0)

 

Game #162 Tampa Bay Rays (77-85) @ Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) - game recap

Alejandro Kirk belted 2 huge home runs, including a grand slam and drove in 6 runs in a 13-4 comeback win over the Rays to capture the AL East title and earn a bye into the divisonal round

 

And it all comes down to game 162. After a huge win yesterday thanks to 5 shutout innings from rookie phenom Trey Yesavage who started this season in Dunedin and worked his way through all 4 minor league tiers, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 11th series sweep and punch their ticket to the ALDS with a week of much needed rest and recovery. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Myles Straw was in LF and Anthony Santander was in RF. Ernie Clement was at SS and Davis Schneider was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 11th series sweep and punch their ticket to the ALDS? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Jonathan Aranda singled scoring Richie Palacios
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring George Springer
• Three batters later, Alejandro Kirk smashed a grand slam to left-center; also scoring Davis Schneider, Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho
• The Rays got a pair back in the top of the 3rd as Aranda singled scoring Bob Seymour and Palacios
• Two batters later, Jake Magnum singled home Aranda
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 3.2IP 8H 4R (all earned) 2BB 5K 85 pitches (52 for strikes) 
• Ian Seymour pitching line: 3.1IP 7H 6R (all earned) 2BB 5K 81 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 1st lon a sac fly by Andre Gimenez that scored Ernie Clement
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the button of the 5th as Kirk hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Anthony Santander
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th as Addison Barger hammered a 2-run bomb to right-center; also scoring Varsho
• Two batters later, Myles Straw tripled scoring Clement 
• A batter later, Springer belted a 2-run jack to straightaway center; also scoring Straw
• Final score: Blue Jays 13 Rays 4

My Take 

• Kevin Gausman battled through 3.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. He was n decentt shape through 2 innings with 30 odd pitches thrown. Sure he put his team behind early, but he came up with a HUGE 1-2-3 inning. The Rays got to him in the third inning and just drove up the pitch count, knocking him out of the game with the bases loaded and the go-ahead run just a hit away. It was a calculated risk to start him today - best starter on the team but prone to clunkers like today and now he would be unavailable if the Blue Jays lose and the Yankees lose. 
• The bullpen was superb, firing 5.1 shutout innings, giving up a hit and 2 walks while striking out 9. Mason Fluharty, Brayden Fisher and Eric Lauer all retired every batter they faced. Brandon Little came in and struck out the side. 
• It was a team effort offensively. Alejandro Kirk hit a HUGE grand slam to put the Blue Jays up by 4 runs after the 1st inning and came through again in the 5th with a 2-run blast to restore the 4-run cushion. George Springer capped off his tremendous comeback season with a 2-run jack to cap off the scoring. Vlad drew the Blue Jays even with a huge RBI single (he had other chances to convert and failed. The Blue Jays will need his big bat to be on fire in a week). Addison Barger belted a 2-run jack and Myles Straw tripled home a run. Up and down the lineup, the bats came through. The Blue Jays had control of their destiny and they took full advantage of it.
• The Blue Jays were 5-14 with runners in scoring positon
• The Blue Jays didn't need the Orioles help and they weren't getting it either. The Yankees won on the final day.
• The comeback kids did it again! The Blue Jays end the year with an impressive 49 comeback wins, one shy of the franchise record of 50 set by the juggernaut 1987 team
• The Blue Jays finish with a record of 94-68. The world series winning 1992 and 1993 teams finshed 96-66 and 95-67 respectively
• Up next, a well deserved week off as they await the winner of the wild card series between the Yankees and Red Sox. The Blue Jays won the season series 8-5 aganst the Red Sox, but the Red Sox outscored the Blue Jays 56-53. The Blue Jays also won the season series against the Yankees 8-5, outscoring the Yankees 70-59. The Blue Jays will have full options to start game 1. Look for Shane Bieber or Kevin Gausman to get the assignment. Here's hoping Chris Bassitt is good to go as well.

Game #162 Tampa Bay Rays (77-84) v. Toronto Blue Jays (93-68)

 

Game #161 Tampa Bay Rays (77-84) @ Toronto Blue Jays (93-68) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement drove in a pair and scored twice in a 5-1 win over the Rays

After a huge win over the Rays thanks to a clutch 2-run home run from Nathan Lukes,  the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 27th series win of the season. Trey Yesavage got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider got the start in left field.  Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 27th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ernie Clement doubled scoring Addison Barger and Davis Schneider
• A batter later, Andres Gimenez singled home Clement
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of 5th as Nathan Lukes singled scoring Clement 
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 5IP 5H 0R 2BB 5K 94 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Rays got one back in the top of the 6th as Jonathan Aranda hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• Joe Boyle pitching line: 5IP 5H 4R (all earned) 3BB 5K 92 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Alejandro Kirk hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Rays 1

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage fired 5 shutout innings,  scattering 5 hits,  walking 2 and striking out 5. The rookie phenom continues an outstanding season that started in Vancouver and progressed through all 4 tiers of the minor league system. Heck if either Jose Berrios or Chris Bassitt aren't able to go, I'd throw him on the playoff roster.
• The bullpen was mostly solid giving up a run on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 7 over the last 4 innings. Justin Bruihl was excellent in his one inning, striking out 2 batters. 
• Offensively, Ernie Clement and Andres Gimenez had clutch hits to give the Blue Jays an early 3-0 advantage. A struggling Alejandro Kirk anihilated a bomb to the second deck in left to put the game out of reach. It would be nice if Vlad could get his ice cold bat going tomorrow. He needs a week off since something is obviously ailing him and impacting his swing
• The Blue Jays were 3-6 with runners in scoring position
• The Yankees also won earlier today, setting up a winner takes all final Sunday. Quite simply, the Blue Jays win and they get a bye to the ALDS and home field advantage through the ALCS, regardless of what the Yankees do tomorrow. It's great that baseball starts every game at the same time on the final day so no team gets an advantage scoreboard watching
• Up next, the last game of the regular season, where the Blue Jays will be looking to extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 10th sweep of the season and punch their ticket to the ALDS and the all-important home field advantage through the ALCS.  Kevin Gausman starts against Rays lefty Ian Seymour

Game #161 Tampa Bay Rays (77-83) v. Toronto Blue Jays (92-68)