Game #160 Tampa Bay Rays (77-83) @ Toronto Blue Jays (92-68) - game recap

 

Nathan Lukes drove in 3 runs, including a go-ahead 2-run HR in a 4-2 win over the Rays

After a huge win on the strength of a 6-run 6th inning thanks to a grand slam off the bat of Daulton Varsho and a 2-run dinger by George Springer, the Blue Jays were looking to make it two straight wins as they opened the final series of the regular season against the Rays, who have won 7 of the first 10 meetings of the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 51-26. Alek Manoah was claimed off waivers by the Braves. Lefty Justin Bruihl was recalled from AAA-ball and righty Paxton Schultz was optioned to AAA-ball. Shane Bieber got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's huge win over the Bosox. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the button of the 1st as Nathan Lukes singled scoring George Springer
• The Rays tied it in the top of the 2nd as Junior Caminero whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right
• A batter later, Jonathan Aranda whacked a solo blast to right-center and into the Rays bullpen
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom  half of the inning as Ernie Clement singled scoring Daulton Varsho
• The Blue jays took the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Lukes belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Springer
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 5IP 5H 2R (both earned) 2BB 3K 90 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Adrian Houser pitching line: 6IP 7H 4R (all earned) 2BB 5K 96 pitches (66 for strikes) Jeff Hoffman pitched a scoreless 9th for his 33rd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Rays 2

My Take:

• Shane Bieber fired 5 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3. 2 mistake pitches that went over the wall in right was the damage against him today. Bieber retired 6 in a row at one point. He should be getting a start in the playoffs, hopefully in the divisional round, which would give him a full week off.
• The bullpen threw 4 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and walking 3. Mason Fluharty was excellent, firing 2 perfect innings and striking out 4. It will be defibrilator time for Blue Jays fans when Jeff Hoffman comes in to close out a game in the playoffs. He barely escaped a jam caused by him walking 2 batters. His pitches were not close on his 11 balls. The Blue Jays may want to look at a different closer next year. If he had converted even half of his 7 blown saves, this win would have clinched the AL East title.
• Offensively, Nathan Lukes led the way, driving in 3-runs, including a 2-run blast in the 5th that turned out to be the difference in the game. Ernie Clement drove in the other Blue Jays run. Vlad has to start picking it up offensively. He hit into a rally-killing DP in the 2nd inning and popped out to end the inning in the 7th.
• The Blue Jays were 2-5 with runners in scoring position
• This was the 48th comeback win of the year, 2 comeback wins behind the juggernaut 1987 squad that had 50 comeback wins
• The Yankees also won today which means the Blue Jays could clinch the AL East tomorrow if they win their matinee against the Rays and the Yankees lose a few hours later to the Orioles. At worst, the Blue Jays would host a wild card series likely against the Red Sox
• Up next,  the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 27th series win of the season. Trey Yesavage starts against Rays righty Joe Boyle

Game #160 Tampa Bay Rays (77-82) v. Toronto Blue Jays (91-68)

 

Game #159 Boston Red Sox (87-72) @ Toronto Blue Jays (91-68) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho hit a grand slam in a 6-1 win over the Red Sox 

After a brutal loss due to a rough first inning from Max Scherzer, Jose Berrios giving up a 3-run HR and absolutely nothing from the offence, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time this season. Jose Berrios was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation and Paxson Schultz was recalled from AAA-ball. It was bullpen day with Louis Varland starting with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Anthony Santander got the start in LF with George Springer serving as DH. Nathan Lukes was in RF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner, Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and avoid their 5th series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Louis Varland pitching line: 2IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K 23 pitches (16 for strikes)
• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of 6th as Daulton Varsho hit a grand slam to right-center and into the Red Sox bullpen: also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Addison Barger and Anthony Santander 
• Four batters later, George Springer whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right
• Brayan Bello pitching line: 5IP 3H 2R (both earned) 3BB 3K 89 pitches (54 for strikes
• The Red Sox got one back in the top of the 7th as Trevor Story singled scoring Jarren Duran
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 1

My Take:

• Louis Varland did his job as the opening, firing 2 perfect innings and striking out 3 batters. The bullpen game was necessitated by both Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt on the IL. If all goes well and the Blue Jays clinch the division before Sunday,  he could be in line to be the opener in another bullpen game
• The rest of the bullpen experienced mixed results. Eric Lauer threw 3 perfect innings. Yariel Rodriguez, who was credited for the w and Brandon Little also both retired every batter they faced. Braydon Fisher gave up the Red Sox only run and Jeff Hoffman loaded the bases before inducing a pop-fly to end the game. This could be the team's achilles heel
• Daultton Varsho (grand slam) and George Springer (2-run HR) drove the offence
• This win was huge since the Yankees were poised to sweep the White Sox. The Blue Jays also clinched a bye to the divisional round for the AL East division winner
• Up next, the Blue Jays welcome the Rays for the final series of the regular season. Shane Bieber starts against Rays righty Adrian Houser

Game #159 Boston Red Sox (87-71) v. Toronto Blue Jays (90-68)

 

Game #158 Boston Red Sox (87-71) @ Toronto Blue Jays (90-68) - game recap

 

Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a solo home run in a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox

After an unfortunate loss due to an ice cold offence and an unfortunate game-changing foul ball call by 3rd base ump, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 19th series loss of the season. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Anthony Santander returned to the lineup for the first time since May 29th and served as DH. George Springer was in LF and Myles Straw was in RF. IKF was at the hot corner, Ernie Clement was at SS and Davis Schneider was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 19th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights: 

• The Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Masataka Yoshida doubled scoring Trevor Story
• A batter later, Romy Gonzalez singled scoring Yoshida and Alex Bregman
• The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 5th as Yoshida belted a solo jack to right
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 10H 4R (all earned) 0BB 5K 86 pitches (65 for strikes)
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was ejected in the bottom of the 7th for arguing a called 3rd strike that replay showed caught the corner
• A batter later, hitting coach David Popkns joined him in the clubhousem also ejected for arguing balls and strikes
• The Red Sox added 3 runs in the top of the 8th as Carlos Narvaez hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Ceddanne Rafaela and Gonzalez
• Garrett Crochet pitching line: 8IP 3H 0R 0BB 6K 100 pitches (69 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 9th as Isiah Kiner-Falefa whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right
• Final score: Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 10 hits while walking none and striking out 5. Scherzer didn't make it out of the 1st inning and tonight was nearly a repeat with the Red Sox jumping on him early, plating 3 runs on 5 hits in the opening inning and pushing 30 pitches. He actually struck out the 1st batter he faced, but gave up 5 straight hits. The way the season is ending for him, don't be surprised if Scherzer joins fellow pitching legend Clayton Kershaw, who he pitched against for the final time August 8th with both future hall of famers turning back the clock on that day. A month ago, Scherzer looked like he had a playoff start locked up, but his recent starts have not been good. 
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 2 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3 over the last 4 innings. Jose Berrios had mixed results in his first regular season relief appearance since September 29, 2017. He retired the side in order on an efficient 10 pitches in the 7th, but ran into trouble in the 8th, giving up a 3-run HR that put the game out of reach. You have to wonder if he starts Sunday if the divison title is still up for grabs. Brandon Little retired every batter he faced
• There has to be big concern about the ice cold offence, which can't do anything lately. A month ago, it appeared the offence could outhit the pitching flaws. Today, a 3-run deficit feels insurmountable. Vlad was 0-3 before getting ejected on a called strike that was closer to the strike zone than the previous pitch. Anthony Santander looked like he was still catching up to big league pitching after running out of minor league games with the minor league season now over. The bottom of the order actually got 3 of the 4 hits on the day
• The news was even worse on the scoreboard with the Yankees drawing even with the Blue Jays in the standings after an easy win over the White Sox. Boston is also only 3 back of the Blue Jays. If the Blue Jays don't pick things up soon, they will be facing a crapshoot wild card series on the road, which could be in Cleveland against a red hot Guardians squad.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid and aoid being swept for the 5th time this season. Brayan Bello starts for the Red Sox. The Blue Jays haven't named their starter for tomorrow