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

Game #99 San Francisco Giants (52-47) v. Toronto Blue Jays (57-41)

 

Game #98 San Francisco Giants (52-47) @ Toronto Blue Jays (57-41) - game recap

 

Tyler Heineman hit a 2-run HR in a 6-3 comeback win over the Giants

After another win thanks to a 4-run 2nd inning and 6.1 shutout innings from Chris Bassitt, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win and 11th season series win of the season. Eric Lauer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's win. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win and 11th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Giants opened the scoring in the top of the 5th as Willy Adames belted a solo jack to left-center
• The Giants added a run in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Heliot Ramos that scored Luis Matos 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Ernie Clement singled scoring Bo Bichette
• A batter later, Will Wagner doubled scoring Addison Barger and Clement
• A batter after that, Heineman doubled home Wagner
• Eric Lauer pitching line: 6IP 2H 2R (both earned) 0BB 7K 81 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Giants got one back in the top of the 7th as Adames whacked a solo blast to left
• Logan Webb pitching line: 6IP 11H 4R (all earned) 1BB 1K 80 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Tyler Heineman whacked a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Myles Straw
• Jeff Hoffman threw a scoreless 9th for his 23rd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Giants 3

My Take:

• Eric Lauer started the game perfect through 4 innings and retired the first 13 batters he faced until Willy Adames took him deep. He was removed after 81 pitches, perhaps because the team wanted him to end on a high note or because the bullpen needed work.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 2 hits while walking none and striking out 2 over the last 3 innings. The Blue Jays killer on the day, Willy Adames took Chad Green deep for the run against. Brandon Little retired every batter he faced
• The offense rallied for 4 runs in the 6th inning and Tyler Heineman gave Jeff Hoffman a three-run cushion to work with by goiing deep in the 8th for 2 runs. Will Wagner is off to a hot start in the 2nd half with 4 RBI's so far in this series
• Every Blue Jays starter had a hit today
• The Blue Jays were 3-12 with runners in scoring position
• The Blue Jays have a decent shot at 100 wins if they keep playing the way they are playing. They need to go 43-21 to get to the century mark in wins
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games, complete their 8th series sweep and 4th season series sweep of the season. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Giants lefty Robbie Ray, who was the last Blue Jays pitcher to capture the Cy Young award.

Game #98 San Francisco Giants (52-46) v. Toronto Blue Jays (56-41)

 

Game #97 San Francisco Giants (52-46) @ Toronto Blue Jays (56-41) - game recap

 

Chris Bassitt threw 6.1 shutout innings in a 4-0 shutout win over the Giants 

After a much-deserved (and needed) 4-day all-star break, the Blue jays kicked off the unofficial start to the second half of the season as they welcomed the San Francisco Giants to Toronto. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, outscoring the Giants 18-13. Lots of injury news. Yimi Garcia is dealing wiith an ulnar nerve issue that will delay his return from a sprained ankle. Bowden Francis is shut down from throwing after experiencing further discomfort in his throwing shoulder.Ryan Burr is undergoing season ending shoulder capsule surgery. Daulton Varsho could be back in a week , he is playing games in the FCL this week. Finally Anthony Santander is still not swinging a bat and will be coming to Toronto to get a game plan for his rehab. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing Saturday (George Springer DH'd tonight). Joey Loperfido was in LF, Nathan Lukes was in CF and Addison Barger was in RF. Will Wagner was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays start the unofficial second half of the season with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Joey Loperfido doubled scoring Addison Barger
• Two batters later, Will Wagner doubled scoring Alejandro Kirk and Loperfido
• A batter later, Nathan Lukes singled home Wagner
• Justin Verlander pitching line: 2.2IP 9H 4R (all earned) 2BB 0K 66 pitches (41 for strikes)
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 6.1IP 10H 0R 0BB 5K 97 pitches (64 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Giants 0

My Take

• Chris Bassit threw 6.1 shutout innings, giving up 10 hits, walking none and striking out 5. Bassitt was working his way in and out of jams all night and benefited from good defense. Interesting they let Bassitt come out for thr 7th inning despite him being at 89 pitches. Overuse of the bullpen in the 1st half and the injury news of some of the relievers (Yimi Garcia and Ryan Burr in particular) were definite factors. The Blue Jays definitely need to target bullpen help and possibly a starting pitcher at the trade deadline
• The bullpen gave up a hit, walked none and struck out 7 over the last 2.2 innings. Brandon Little  and Jeff Hoffman retired every batter they faced
• The offense did all the damage in the 2nd inning, scoring 4 times. Joey Loperfido, Will Wagner and Nathan Lukes drove in the runs
• The Blue Jays were 3-9 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch 16th series win of the season. Eric Lauer starts against Giants righty Logan Webb