Game #22 - Toronto Blue Jays (8-13) @ Los Angeles Angels (11-12)

 

Game #21- Toronto Blue Jays (8-13) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (13-9) - game recap

 

Nathan Lukes drove in 3 runs and scored a run in a 10-4 victory over the Diamondacks

After another loss due to Jeff Hoffman giving up a grand slam, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time (first in a season series). Ace Kevin Gausman got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's loss. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time (first in a season series)? Here is today's game recap

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement
• Two batters later, Eloy Jimenez singled scoring Guerrero Jr
• Two batters later Kazuma Okamoto doubled scoring Jesus Sanchez and Jimenez
• Three batters later, Lukes doubled home Andres Gimenez, Okamoto and Myles Straw 
• Ryne Nelson pitching line 0.1IP 8H 8R (all earned) 1BB 1K 30 pitches (19 for strikes)
• The Diamondbacks got one back in the bottom of the 2nd as James McCann singled scoring Adrian Del Castillo
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Okamoto whacked a solo blast to left-center
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Gimenez that scored Guerrero Jr.
• The Diamondbacks got one back in the button of the 6th as Del Castillo doubled scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr 
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 7H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 86 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Diamondbacks got a pair back in the bottom of the 7th as Jorge Barrosa smacked a 2-run blast to left and into the Diamondbacks bullpen; also scoring Ketel Marte
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 Diamondbacks 4

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman fired 6 solid innings giving up a pair of runs on 7 his while walking 1 and striking 4. For once, Gausman didn't have to be cy young today. He retired 5 in a row at one point and made the pitches he had to to escape the jams he got into. It must have been nice to be able to work with a sizable lead knowing a mistake pitch wouldn't be catastrophic.
• The bullpen gave up a pair of runs on 3 hits (both runs were charged to Mason Fluharty who was taken deep by Jorge Barrosa) while walking none and striking out 1 over the last 3 innings. Tommy Nance retired every batter he faced.
• Offensively, the bats exploded in the 1st inning like a shaken pop bottle, scoring 8 times, including a bases clearing double from Nathan Lukes, who has received a lot of criticism for early season struggles from fans. Lukes got 2 hits in the inning and Dbacks starters Ryne Nelson until the 9th batter of the inning and Lukes knocked him out of the game with the double a batter later. Vlad and Kazuma Okamoto, who later went deep, knocked in 2 runs each in that 1st inning. The trick will be replicating that result tomorrow in LA.
• Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once, all but Myles Straw had a hit and all but Brandon Valenzuela either scored a run or drove in a run.
• The Dbacks, and in particular catcher James McCann, were a perfect 2-2 in overturning ABS challenges. The Blue Jays were 0-2 with a ball confirmed on a challenge by catcher Brandon Valenzuela and a strike confirmed on a challenge by Myles Straw
• The Blue Jays were 5-13 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays head to LA to take on the Angels in the last stop of the road trip. The Blue Jays took the season series last year with both teams scoring 26 runs. Dylan Cease starts against Angels lefty Reid Detmers

Game #21 - Toronto Blue Jays (7-13) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (13-8)

 

Game #20- Toronto Blue Jays (7-13) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (13-8) - game recap

M-ax Scherzer threw 6 solid innings in a 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks

After a hybrid bullpen day with Eric Lauer as the bulk inning guy went south, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 3-game skid and avoid losing their 6th straight series and 3rd straight season series. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF, Myles Straw was in RF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid and avoid losing their 6th straight series and 3rd straight season series? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Jesus Sanchez singled scoring Nathan Lukes
• The Diamondbacks tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Geraldo Perdomo singled scoring Corbin Carroll
• The Diamondbacks took the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Alek Thomas doubled scoring Jose Fernandez
• The Blue jaysFinal score:  tied it in the top of the 6th as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Eloy Jimenez
• Zac Gallen pitching line: 5.2IP 9H 2R (both earned) 0BB 3K 88 pitches (63 for strikes
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 1K 74 pitches (50 for strikes)
• The Diamondbacks retook the lead in the bottom of the 8th on a grand slam to the opposite field in left-center by Carroll that also scored Ildemaro Vargas, Thomas and Ketel Marte 
• Final score: Diamondbacks 6 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Max Scherzer fired 6 strong innings, giving up a pair of runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1. He retired 8 in a row at one point and the drizzled veteran made pitches when he had to. The Blue jays should considering keeping him in the rotation even when everyone is healthy because he adds so much valuable knowledge in the dugout and tonight he showed he can still contribute meaningfully. Next start, Scherzer should reach the 3500 strikeout milestone. 
• The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk (all against Jeff Hoffman, who is apparently being moved out of the closer role, at least temporarily) and striking out 2. The Blue Jays should give Tyler Rogers, who has been fantastic so far this season, as crack at cloring games.
• The offense continues to sputter along. Nathan Lukes had a good night in the leadoff spot with 3 hits and he scored the Blue Jays first run.
• The Blue Jays had their chances, as evidenced by every starter except Andres Gimenez and Tyler Heineman with at least 1 hit.
• There were no ABS challenges for the second straight day, but the Blue Jays successfully overturned 2 calls in the field. When you are struggling as a team, you need to challenge every call you can.
• The Blue Jays were 2-9 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time (1st in a season series). Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Diamondbaacks righty Ryne Nelson

Game #20 - Toronto Blue Jays (7-12) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (12-8)