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| George Springer hit a leadoff home run in a losing effort as the Royals came dob behind to rout the Blue Jays 20-1 |
After another loss thanks to the inept offence, the Blue Jays made their final road stop of the season against the Royals, who took the series in Toronto back on the BC Day long weekend, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-11. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's shutout loss. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and start the last road series and last weekend of summer with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as George Springer led off the game with a solo jack to left-center
- The Royals tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Bobby Witt Jr. singled scoring Carter Jensen
- A batter later, Vinny Pasquantino doubled scoring Witt Jr.
- A batter after that, Pete Walker was ejected for arguing balls and strikes
- A batter later, Salvador Perez whacked a 3-run blast to the opposite field in right-center
- Three batters later, Michael Massey smashed a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Adam Frazier
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 0.2IP 7H 7R (all earned) 1BB 2K 45 pitches (30 for strikes)
- The Royals added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Jensen doubled scoring Jac Caglianone and Massey
- Two batters later, Pasquantino singled home Jensen
- John Schneider was ejected from the game in the bottom of the 6th for arguing balls and strikes
- Michael Lorenzen pitching line: 7.2IP 3H 1R (earned) 3BB 4K 113 pitches (71 for strikes)
- The Royals added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Luke Maile singled scoring Jonathan India
- Two batters later, Caglianone smacked a 3-run blast to right-center; also scoring Maile and Tyler Tolbert
- The Royals added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Maile doubled scoring India and Randal Grichuk
- A batter later, Frazier singled scoring Tolbert
- A batter after that, Caglianone singled scoring Maile
- A batter later, Massey singled scoring Frazier
- A batter later, John Rave singled home Caglianone.
- Final score: Royals 20 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- Max Scherzer was lit up to the tune of 7 runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. There has to be big concerns about the health of Scherzer, who coudn't even get out of the 1st inning tonight. His back has been bothering him for a while. At this point, I would shut him down with just one start left and let him rest. You have to wonder if he'll follow Clayton Kershaw into retirement with the way his season is ending.
- The bullpen was even worse, getting lit up for 13 runs on 20 hits while walking 4 and striking out 4 over 7.2 innings. To be fair, ten of the runs and 13 of the hits were off position player/backup catcher Tyler Heineman, who has an ungodly 32.40ERA this season. Brandon Little and IKF both retired every batter they faced.
- George Springer hit a leadoff home run and the offence took the rest of the night off. It is starting to get concerning that the bats have gone ice cold with the season winding down. Bo Bichette won't be able to get any rehab games in since the minor league season is now over. At least Anthony Santander was able to play some rehab games.
- The Blue Jays were 0-0 with runners in scoring position and that is not a typo. Not one baserunner reached second base.
- Standings wise, the Yankees and Tigers both lost, keeping the Yankees 3 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East and the Blue Jays 4 games ahead of the Tigers for best record in the AL and home field advantage through the ALCS.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 16th series loss and 8th season series loss of the season. Shane Bieber starts against Royals lefty Noah Cameron
