Game #101 New York Yankees (56-45) @ Toronto Blue Jays (59-42) - game recap

 

George Springer scored twice and drove in a run in a 5-4 loss to the Yankees

After another win thanks to yet another 4-run rally and 7 strong innings from Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 5 straight (6 straight against the Yankees), the Blue Jays were looking to notch their 17th series win and 11th season series win of the season. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.  Joey Loperfido was in LF, Nathan Lukes was in CF and Addison Barger was in RF.  Will Wagner was at the hot corner and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 5 straight wins overall (6 straight vs. the Yankees) and notch their 17th series win and 11th season series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Jazz Chisholm Jr hammered a 3- run bomb to right-center; also scoring Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger 
• The Blue jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Addison Barger singled scoring George Springer
• The Yankees added a run in the top of the 5th as Bellinger belted a solo jack to right-center 
• The Blue jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Barger singled scoring Springer
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 5H 4R (all earned) 1BB 4K 90 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Cam Schlittler pitching line: 5IP 7H 2R ( both earned) 3BB 3K 90 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Blue jays got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Davis Schneider doubled scoring Myles Straw 
• Two batters later,  Springer singled home Schneider
• The Yankees retook the lead in the top of the 9th as Ben Rice whacked a solo blast to right-center 
• Devin Williams threw a scoreless 9th for his 15th save of the season
• Final score: Yankees 5 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 4. The Yankees got to him early with Jazz Chisholm hitting a no-doubter for 3 runs. It was enouraging to see Scherzer be able to throw 90 pitches with a cranky thumb that will likely affect him the remainder of the season. It is likely the Blue Jays will go to a 6-man rotation once Alek Manoah returns, although he'll be a few weeks away as he slowly builds back up to a starter's load.
• The bullpen gave up a run on a hit and a walk while striking out 2 over the last 4 innings. Closer Jeff Hoffman gave up a solo HR in the 9th for the run against. Mason Fluharty was excellent in his first appreance since being recalled yesterday after being demoted to AAA-ball July 2nd due to some bad appearances, retiring every batter he faced over 2 innings
• George Springer (2 runs scored, RBI) and Addison Barger (2 RBI drove the offense today. Sadly, the boys were unable to eke out another comeback win, pretty much falling a run short (they failed to score the go-ahead run after rallying to tie the game in the 6th inning)
• The Blue Jays were 3-13 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to notch their 17th series win and 11th season series win of the season. Chris Bassitt starts against Yankees lefty Max Fried

Game #101 New York Yankees (55-45) v. Toronto Blue Jays (59-41)

 

Game #100 New York Yankees (55-45) @ Toronto Blue Jays (59-41) - game recap

 

Kevin Gausman threw 7 strong innings in a 4-1 comeback win over the Yankees

After another huge comeback win on the strength of a 4-run 5th inning, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games (and 5 straight against the Yankees. The Blue Jays are 5-2 against the Yankees this season, outscoring the Bronx Bombers 43-41. Lefty Mason Fluharty was recalled from AAA-ball and righy Robinson Pina was optioned to AAA-ball. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Joey Loperfido got the start in RF. The rest of the lineup was the same as Sunday's win. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and 5 straight against the Yankees? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Giancarlo Stanton belted a solo jack to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen 
• The Blue jays took the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Bo Bichette doubled scoring George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr 
• Three batters later,  Myles Straw singled scoring Bichette. Yankees 3B Oswald Peraza was charged with a throwing error on the play
• A batter later, Straw scored on a throwing error by Yankees SS Anthony Volpe on a ball hit by Leo Jimenez
• Carlos Rodon pitching line: 5IP 6H 4R (2 earned) 5BB 4K 107 pitches (66 for strikes)
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 7IP 4H 1R (earned) 2BB 8K 86 pitches (61 for strikes)
• Jeff Hoffman threw a perfect 9th for his 24th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Yankees 1

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman threw 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8. He retired 7 of the first 9 batters he faced.  Gausman also retired the last 6 batters he faced. It's important Gausman does well against teams like the Yankees since he will likely start one of the first two games of a playoff series. 
• The bullpen threw 2 shutout innings, giving up a walk and a hit while striking out 4. Yariel Rodriguez and Jeff Hoffman, who struck out the side in the 9th inning, both retired every batter they faced
• The comeback kids struck again with Bo Bichette driving in a pair to give the Blue Jays the lead and the team takin full advantage of 2 costly throwing errors by the Yankees infielders
• The Blue Jays were 3-11 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 5 games (6 vs. the Yankees) and the home win streak to 12 games (tonight they set the record), notch their 17th series win and 13th season series win of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Yankees righty Cam Schlittler.

Game #100 New York Yankees (55-44) v. Toronto Blue Jays (58-41)

 

Game #99 San Francisco Giants (52-48) @ Toronto Blue Jays (58-41) - game recap-

 

Addison Barger hit a 2-run HR in an 8-6 comeback win over the Giants

After another win thanks to a stellar pitching performance from Eric Lauer, a 4-run rally in the 6th inning and a 2-run HR off the bat of Tyler Heineman, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and complete their 8th series sweep and 4th season series sweep of the season. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF and Myles Straw was in CF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Leo Jimenez got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and complete their 8th series sweep and 4th season series sweep of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Giants opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Helios Ramos singled scoring Jung Hoo Lee
• The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hammered a solo bomb
• The Blue jays took the lead in the top of the 4th as Bo Bichette doubled scoring Ernie Clement and Guerrero Jr.
• The Giants got one back in the top of the 5th as Andrew Knizner singled scoring Matt Chapman
• The Blue jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as George Springer belted a solo jack to left
• Three batters later,  Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Bichette
• A batter later,  Addison Barger drilled a 2-run bomb to the second deck in right; also scoring Kirk
• Robbie Ray pitching line: 4.1 IP 5H 5R (all earned) 5BB 3K 95 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Giants got a pair back in the top of the 6th as Chapman whacked a 2- run blast to the opposite field in right- center and into the Giants bullpen; also scoring Rafael Devers
• Two batters later, Brett Wisely singled scoring Dominic Smith 
• Two batters later, Lee singled scoring Wisely. Lee was thrown out at 2B on the play to end the inning
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 5.2IP 8H 4R (all earned) 1BB 5K 89 pitches (56 for strikes)
• Giants pitcher Justin Verlander was thrown out of the game for arguing balls and strikes
• The Blue jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Springer
• Yariel Rodriguez threw a perfect 9th for his 2nd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Giants 6

My Take:

• Jose Berrios battled through 5.2 innings,  giving up 4 runs on 8 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5. Didn't have his best stuff today and he was yanking pitches outside to right handed batters. Ex-teammate Matt Chapman ended his day by taking Berrios deep for 2 runs. I still would have let Berrios finish the inning and have the bullpen start with a clean inning.
• The bullpeen gave up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 over the last 3.1 innings. The normally reliable Brayden Fisher did not retire any of the batters he faced. Tommy Nance and Yariel Rodriguez both retired every batter they faced. Likely a smart move to save closer Jeff Hoffman for the big Yankees series starting tomorrow
• George Springer (2 runs scored, including solo HR), Vlad (2 runs scored, 2 RBI, including solo HR), Bo Bichette (2RBI, run scored), Alejandro Kirk (RBI, run scored) and  Addison Barger (2-run HR) drove the offense today
• Every Blue Jays starter except Leo Jimenez and Myles Straw reached base at least once and all but Jimenez, Straw and Davis Schneider had a hit
• The Blue Jays were 3-6 with runners in scoring  position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the winning streak to 4 games (5 straight over the Yankees). Kevin Gausman starts against Yankees lefty Carlos Rodon