Game #114 Toronto Blue Jays (66-48) @ Colorado Rockies (30-82) - game recap

 

Bo Bichette homered twice and drove in 6 runs in a 15-1 rout over the Rockies

After an ugly extra innings loss caused by the bullpen imploding, the Blue Jays hit the road, starting in Colorado tonight. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, but the Rockies outscored the Blue Jays 15-14. Eric Lauer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Chad Green cleared waivers and was released. Eric Lauer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette got the half day off as DH with Ernie Clement at SS. Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Joey Loperfido was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays start the week and road trip with a win? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Bo Bichette singled scoring Nathan Lukes
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 2nd as Davis Schneider singled scoring Ernie Clement 
• The Blue Jays added three runs in the top of the 3rd as Daulton Varsho drilled a 3--run blast to the second deck in right-center; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger
• Two batters later,  Joey Loperfido singled scoring Clement
• A batter later, Schneider doubled scoring Loperfido. Schneider was thrown out at 3rd trying to stretch the double into a triple
• Two batters later, Bichette whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Lukes
• Tanner Gordon pitching line: 2.2IP 11H 7R (all earned) 0BB 1K 67 pitches (42 for strikes)
• The Rockies got one back in the bottom of the 5th as Ezequiel Tovar singled scoring Tyler Freeman
• The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Lukes singled scoring Clement
• A batter later, Bichette hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Lukes and Loperfido 
• Four batters later, Varsho singled scoring Barger
• Eric Lauer pitching line: 6IP 7H 1R (earned) 1BB 4K 97 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th on a ground-rule double by Clement that scored Ty France
• Final score: Blue Jays 15 Rockies 1

My Take:

• Eric Lauer pitched 6 strong innings,  giving up a run on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. He got a huge play from his battery mate Alejandro Kirk, who gunned down a runner at 1B. Lauer then proceeded to strike out the batter he was facing to get out of the inning.  Lauer had to endure long waits between the innings due to some big innings by the Blue Jays offense and that may have affected his momentum a bit. Nevertheless, Lauer didn't need to be perfect today. At this point, there's no way you can take Lauer out of the rotation when Shane Bieber and Alek Manoah are ready to return from their Tommy John surgeries. Likely,  the Blue Jays will go to a 6-man rotation nd use Manoah as a long man out of the bullpen.
• The bullpen gave a hit and a walk over the last 2 innings. Brayden Fisher struck out the side and Mason Fluharty pitched the last two innings and made it look easy in the 9th. Fisher may be on a playoff roster, but Fluharty may not be.
• The bats absolutely came alive with the team ready to punish whoever dared pitch to them after a tough stretch. Bo Bichette homered twice (driving in 6 runs), Daulton Varsho launched a 3-run blast (driving in 4 total). Heck, even Davis Schneider drove in a pair.
• Every single Blue Jay except Tyler Heineman reached base. Every starter either drove in a run or scored a run.
• The Blue Jays were 8-15 with runners in scoring position\
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for 2 straight wins, 20 series wins and 13 season series wins on the season. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Rockies righty Anthony Molina.

Game #114 Toronto Blue Jays (65-48) @ Colorado Rockies (30-81)

 

Game #113 Kansas City Royals (56-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (65-48) - game recap

 

Chris Bassitt threw 6 strong innings in a losing effort as the Royals came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 7-4 in 10 innings

After pulling off a win thanks to a 3-run 3rd inning rally, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 20th series win of the season. Alejandro Kirk was reinstated from the 7-day concussion IL and Leo Jimenez was optioned to AAA-ball. Chris Bassitt got the start with Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (Nathan Lukes served as DH today). Myles Straw was in LF, Daulton Varsho was in CF and Joey Loperfido was in RF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and notch their 20th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Myles Straw singled scoring Bo Bichette. Daulton Varsho was thrown out at home on the play to end the inning
• The Royals tied it up in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Mike Yastrzemski that scored Vinnie Pasquantino
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Joey Loperfido singled scoring Ernie Clement 
• Seth Lugo pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 2R (both earned) 4BB 3K 91 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 6IP 1H 1R (earned) 3BB 5K 91 pitches (54'for strikes)
• The Royals tied it in the top of the 8th as Pasquantino singled scoring Bobby Witt Jr.
• The Royals took the lead in the top of the 10th as Kyle Isbel doubled scoring Randal Grichuk
• Three batters later, Tyler Tolbert singled scoring Isbel and Jonathan India
• A batter later, Witt Jr. scored on a throwing error by Alejandro Kirk 
• Same batter, Tolbert scored on a sac fly by Maikel Garcia
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Nathan Lukes singled scoring Straw
• Four batters later, Addison Barger singled home Lukes
• Final score: Royals 7 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt threw 6 strong innings,  giving up a run on a hit, while walking 3 and striking out 5. The Royals did a good job of working the count and Bassitt had to battle to get outs. Shane Bieber, barring an injury setback,  could be ready to join the rotation in a week or two, at which time,  the Blue Jays could opt to go to a six man rotation so the starters, especially Bassitt, Kevin Gausman and Joerrios who were asked to pitch more innings earlier in the season with the Blue Jays effectively having 3.5 man rotation for much of the first half of the season with Max Scherzer trying to sort out his ailing thumb and an ineffective Bowden Francis occupying the other rotation spot.
• Oof was that an ugly day for the bullpen. First, one of the newly acquired bullpen arms, Louis Varland blew the save in the 8th inning. Jeff Hoffman held the score where it was with a scoreless 9th. Then came the 10th inning. Seranthony Dominguez, who yours truly was just heaping praise on a day ago, didn't retire a single batter and coughed up 5 runs on 3 hits, a walk and a throwing error by Alejandro Kirk. Not a great showing by the relievers who were supposed to improve the bullpen ahead of a pennant race.
• Offensively, Nathan Lukes (RBI, run scored), Myles Straw (RBI, run scored), Joey Loperfido (RBI single) and Addison Barger (RBI single)
• The Blue Jays need more off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He was 0-4 today and only got on base because the Royals chose to pitch to Bo Bichette, who singled, in the 9th inning. The pressure on Guerrero Jr. is only going to get bigger, especially if Bichette leaves in free agency, a very likely scenario. Plus, Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million contract starts next season. 16HR simply isn't good enough.
• And another thing, perhaps the Blue Jays should have moved Bichette at the deadline. I know they were going to be buyrs since they had the best record in the MLB, but now Bichette can, and likely will walk away in the off-season for nothing. With the strong season Bichette is having, the Blue Jays could have gotten a few solid prospects at the very least and maybe even a roster player ready to be in the everyday lineup now.
• The Blue Jays were 5-9 with runners in scoring position. This game wasn't lost due to lack of offense, It's pretty difficult to comeback in extra innings when the bullpen gives up 5 runs.
• The one silver lining is the Marlins did the Blue Jays a favor by sweeping the Yankees. At the same time, it could be a caution not to take the weak teams lightly. On the other hand, the Red Sox won again and are just 3 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East. Good thing the Blue Jays have clinched the season series on both the Red Sox and Yankees.
• Up next, The Blue Jays go right back on the road with their final west coast swing of the season, starting in Colorado tomorrow. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, but the Rockies outscored the Blue Jays 15-14. Eric Lauer starts against Rockies righty Tanner Gordon.

Game #113 Kansas City Royals (55-56) v. Toronto Blue Jays (65-47)

 

Game #112 Kansas City Royals (55-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (65-47) - game recap

 

Davis Schneider hit a 2-run single in a 4-2 win over the Royals

After a decisive loss last night due to the pitchers being unable to prevent runs as of late, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Ty France at 1B. Myles Straw was in CF and Addison Barger was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Davis Schneider singled scoring Tyler Heineman and Myles Straw. Royals RF John Rave was charged with a fielding error on the play
• Three batters later, Bo Bichette singled home Schneider
• Tyler Heineman was removed from the game prior to the top of the 4th after getting leveled by a pitch off the mask in thr top of  the 3rd.
• The Royals got one back in the top of the 6th as Salvador Perez whacked q solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 6IP 5H 1R (earned) 0BB 5K 84 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The Royals got one back in the top of the 7th on a sac bunt by Kyle Isbel that scored Adam Frazier 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Ernie Clement singled scoring Joey Loperfido 
• Noah Cameron pitching line: 6.1IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 1K 94 pitches (61 for strikes)
• Jeff Hoffman pitched a perfect 9th for his 26th save of the season.
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Royals 2

My Take:

• Mazz Scherzer pitched 6 solid innings, giving up a run on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 5. Scherzer retired 9 of the first 11 batters he faced.  There is only one pitch he'll want back, when Salvador Perez took him deep in his final inning. Could Scherzer have gone an extra inning, considering he was at 84 pitches after 6 innings? Probably, but pulling him early might mean he's fresh for a possible playoff game if Shane Bieber or Alek Manoah have a setback in their return from tommy john surgery.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 1 hit while walking none and striking out 2 over the last 3 innings. Seranthony Dominguez has made the best early impression of the trade deadline. He is perfect over 3.1 innings and struck out 4 of his old teammates. He could be a key member of the back end of the bullpen.
• Offensively, Davis Schneider (2-run single), Ernie Clement (RBI single) and Bo Bichette (RBI single led the way
• Ty France got his first hit in a Blue Jays uniform and made some nice plays defensively at 1B. His defensive ability will afford the Blue Jays to give Vladdy a few days  off his feet as DH or perhaps complete days off
• The Blue Jays were 3-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch theit 20th series win of the season. Chris Bassitt starts against Royals righty Seth Lugo