Ernie Clement hit a go-ahead solo HR in the 9th as the Blue Jays held on to edge the Dodgers 5-4 |
After a rough loss thanks to a rough 6th inning by the bullpen and Chris Bassitt giving up a HR, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time (and 3rd season series sweep). Eric Lauer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (Ty France DH'd today). Joey Loperfido was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time (and 3rd season series sweep)? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr doubled scoring Bo Bichette
- The Dodgers tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Shohei Ohtani whacked a solo blast to right-center
- Three batters later, Freddie Freeman smacked a solo blast to the opposite field in left-center
- The Dodgers added a run in the bottom of the 2nd on a bases loaded walk to Freeman that forced in Miguel Rojas
- Eric Lauer pitching line: 3IP 6H 3R (all earned) 4BB 4K 71 pitches (42 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Ty France singled scoring Bichette
- Tyler Glasnow pitching line: 5.2IP 4H 2R (both earned) 4BB 8K 86 pitches (53 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 8th as Guerrero Jr. belted a solo jack to straightaway center
- A batter later, Addison Barger hammered a solo bomb to right-center
- The Dodgers tied it in the bottom of the 8th on a bases loaded walk to Freeman that forced in Alex Freeland
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 9th as Ernie Clement whacked a solo blast to left-center
- Mason Fluharty got the last 2 outs for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Dodgers 4
My Take:
- Eric Lauer had a rare rough start, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 4. It was clear first batter that Lauer just didn't have his best stuff working for him. Then again, the way the Dodgers have been playing in this series, even Nolan Ryan might have had a tough time. With the blowouts lately, several relievers hadn't been pitching much lately so it was a fairly easy decision to pull Lauer after three innings and 71 pitches, which likely would have given him only one more inning anyway.
- The bullpen bent and almost broke, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 9 and striking out 6. Yariel Rodriguez blew the first save opportunity in the 8th by walking in a run. Closer Jeff Hoffman, who hadn't pitched in a week due to blowouts, was clearly rusty and uncharacteristically walked 5 batters. The outbursts in the dugout from Pete Walker and John Schneider did their pitchers no favors. Also, pitchers need to be throwing strikes consistently to get close calls from the umpire and that did not happen today. Trading for Seranthony Dominguez may have been a mistake. In a playoff game, you need to be throwing strikes and Dominguez has shown some wildness in recent appearances.
- The bats came around late with Vlad, Addison Barger and Ernie Clement all going deep in the latter innings.
- The Blue Jays were 1-5 with runners in scoring position
- The Yankees and Red Sox lost, extending the AL East lead to 4 games ahead of a tough homestand featuring the Cubs and Texas Rangers
- Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays welcome the Chicago Cubs to town as they begin a crucial homestand that could feature the Blue Jays debut of Shane Bieber. The Cubs won the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 9-8. Neither team has set their rotation for the series.