Game #118 Toronto Blue Jays (68-49) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (67-49)

 

Game #117 Toronto Blue Jays (68-49) @ LA Dodgers (67-49) - game recap

 

Bo Bichette drove in the Blue Jays only run in a 5-1 come-from-behind loss to the Dodgers

After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays continued the road trip in LA against a Dodgers team looking to repeat as World Series champions. The Dodgers won the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 17-7. Ali Sanchez was claimed was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing Wednesday (Ty France served as DH tonight). Daulton Varsho was in CF and Myles Straw was in RF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner. Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Addison Barger singled scoring Bo Bichette
• The Dodgers took the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Mookie Betts belted a 2-2-run jack to left; also scoring Shohei Ohtani
• Clayton Kershaw pitching line: 6IP 7H 1R (earned) 1BB 4K 74 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 6IP 6H 2R (both earned) 3BB 5K 98 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Dodgers added a run in the bottom of the 7th on a fielder's choice hit by Betts that scored Alex Freeland
• Two batters later,, Ohtani was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Will Smith
• Two batters later, Betts scored on a sac fly by Teoscar Hernandez 
• Final score: Dodgers 5 Blue Jays 1

My T-ake:

• Max Scherzer threw 6 solid innings giving up a pair of runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5. There is really only one pitch he'll want back where Blue Jays killer Mookie Betts took him deep to give the Dodgers the lead. The Dodgers also jumped on him early, but Scherzer escaped that jam without giving up a run despite the bases being loaded. He settled down and retired 8 in a row. This is almost certainly going to be the last pitching match-up between these two future hall of famers and Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw both showed flashes of their brilliance tonight. 
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on a hit and 3 walks while striking out 2 over the last 2 innnings. All 3 runs were charged to Brandon Little, who did not retire a batter. Mason Fluharty retired every batter he faced on 10 pitches
• Bo Bichette drove in the only Blue Jays run. Vlad extended his on-base streak to 24 games and his hitting streak to 4 games.
• The Blue Jays were 2-8 with runners in scoring position
• The lead for 1st in the AL East shrunk by a game with the Red Sox winning. The Astros also won, putting them just 3 games back of the Blue Jays for the record in the AL and home field advantage at least through the ALCS round. It won't take much for the Blue Jays to plummet to 3rd place among the division leaders, which would mean facing a wild card series, which will likely mean a wild card series vs. the Yankees, Red Sox, Mariners or Guardians
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 11th series loss and 4th season series loss of the season. Chris Bassitt starts against Dodgers lefty Blake Snell

Game #117 Toronto Blue Jays (68-48) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (66-49)

 

Game #116 Toronto Blue Jays (67-48) @ Colorado Rockies (30-83)

 

Game #115 Toronto Blue Jays (67-48) @ Colorado Rockies (30-83) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho hit a pair of 2-run HE and drove in 6 runs in a 10-4 comeback win over the Rockies

After a huge 15-1 rout over the Rockies thanks to a pair of home runs and 6RBI from Bo Bichette and a 3-run shot off the bat of Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays were trying to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 20th series win and 13th season series win of the season. Buddy Kennedy was selected to the MLB roster. Ali Sanchez was DFA'd. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (Ty France served as DH tonight). Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins, 20 series wins and 13 season series wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rockies opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as zhunter Goodman belted a solo jack to left; also scoring Ezequiel Tovar
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 3rd as Nathan Lukes whacked a solo blast to right-center and into the Rockies bullpen
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 4th as Daulton Varsho drilled a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Alejandro Kirk
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right
• Two batters, Varsho hammered a 2-run bomb to right; also scoring Kirk
• Anthony Molina pitching line: 5IP 9H 7R (all earned) 1BB 2K 83 pitches (64 for strikes)
• Two batters later, Joey Loperfido was forced out the game after getting hit in the right knee by a pitch
• The Rockies got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Mickey Moniak singth seruesled scoring Goodman. Varsho was charged with a fielding error on the play
• A batter later Warming Bernabel singled scouting Jordan Beck
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 5.2IP 7H 4R (3 earned) 1BB 5K 81 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Lukes
• Three batters later, Varsho doubled scoring Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 Rockies 4

My Take:

• Jose Berrios battled through 5.2 innings,  giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 his whole walking 1 and striking out 5. He helped himself out by picking of a baserunner at 2B. The defense behind him booted a few balls. Would have been nice to see him get through the 6th inning, but the lead had dwindled to three runs when he was removed from the game. 
• The bullpen gave up 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 over the last 3.2 innings. Yariel Rodriguez owes Nathan Lukes a dinner for gunning down a base runner at 2B. Tommy Nance retired every batter he faced. The one nice thing about pitching with a bigger lead is you don't need your high-leverage guys to finish thr game. The Blue Jays will be needing them against the Dodgers and Cubs.
• Daulton Varsho (two 2-run HR, 6RBI overall), Vlad (solo HR, 2RBI), Nathan Lukes (solo HR) and Addison Barger (solo HR) led the way offensively
• The Blue Jays were 2-9 with runners in scoring position,
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and complete their 9th series sweep and 5th season series sweep. Kevin Gausman starts against Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland