Game #161 Tampa Bay Rays (77-84) @ Toronto Blue Jays (93-68) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement drove in a pair and scored twice in a 5-1 win over the Rays

After a huge win over the Rays thanks to a clutch 2-run home run from Nathan Lukes,  the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 27th series win of the season. Trey Yesavage got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider got the start in left field.  Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 27th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ernie Clement doubled scoring Addison Barger and Davis Schneider
• A batter later, Andres Gimenez singled home Clement
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of 5th as Nathan Lukes singled scoring Clement 
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 5IP 5H 0R 2BB 5K 94 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Rays got one back in the top of the 6th as Jonathan Aranda hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• Joe Boyle pitching line: 5IP 5H 4R (all earned) 3BB 5K 92 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Alejandro Kirk hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Rays 1

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage fired 5 shutout innings,  scattering 5 hits,  walking 2 and striking out 5. The rookie phenom continues an outstanding season that started in Vancouver and progressed through all 4 tiers of the minor league system. Heck if either Jose Berrios or Chris Bassitt aren't able to go, I'd throw him on the playoff roster.
• The bullpen was mostly solid giving up a run on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 7 over the last 4 innings. Justin Bruihl was excellent in his one inning, striking out 2 batters. 
• Offensively, Ernie Clement and Andres Gimenez had clutch hits to give the Blue Jays an early 3-0 advantage. A struggling Alejandro Kirk anihilated a bomb to the second deck in left to put the game out of reach. It would be nice if Vlad could get his ice cold bat going tomorrow. He needs a week off since something is obviously ailing him and impacting his swing
• The Blue Jays were 3-6 with runners in scoring position
• The Yankees also won earlier today, setting up a winner takes all final Sunday. Quite simply, the Blue Jays win and they get a bye to the ALDS and home field advantage through the ALCS, regardless of what the Yankees do tomorrow. It's great that baseball starts every game at the same time on the final day so no team gets an advantage scoreboard watching
• Up next, the last game of the regular season, where the Blue Jays will be looking to extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 10th sweep of the season and punch their ticket to the ALDS and the all-important home field advantage through the ALCS.  Kevin Gausman starts against Rays lefty Ian Seymour

Game #161 Tampa Bay Rays (77-83) v. Toronto Blue Jays (92-68)

 

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