Game #56 Miami Marlins (26-30) v. Toronto Blue Jays (26-29)

 

Game #55 - Miami Marlins (26-30) @ Toronto Blue Jays (26-29) - game recap

 

Jesus Sanchez hit his first career grand slam in an 8-1 rout of the Marlins

After an ugly loss due to some sloppy defense, a bad day for the pitchers and the inept offense, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2-game skid and avoid their 9th series loss and 4th season series loss of the season. It was bullpen day with Brayden Fisher first man on the bump and Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate.  Vlad remained out with a sore elbow from a hit by pitch Sunday so Lenyn Sosa got another start at 1B. Daulton Varsho was back in CF after a complete day off yesterday.  Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and avoid their 9th series loss and 4th season series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• Brayden Fisher pitching line: 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K 12 pitches (9 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ernie Clement whacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Daulton Varsho
• The Marlins got one back in the top of the 5th as Heiberto Hernandez singled scoring Jakob Marsee
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Yohendrick Pinago belted a solo jack to straightaway center\
• Five batters later, George Springer singled scoring Brandon Valenzuela 
• Two batters later, Jesus Sanchez hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in right; also scoring Lenyn Sosa, George Springer and Varsho
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Marlins 1

My Take:

• Brayden Fisher did his part in getting through the 1st inning, allowing a hit, walking none and striking out 1 on 12 pitches. Still not a huge fan of the use of the opener for  several reasons. Firs, pitchers are very much creatures of habit and there are definitely different routines they do to get themselves ready for a game. Also you burn a reliever right away that could have been used in a different way. Third, what happens if the reliever can't get through the 1st inning and now your bulk guy has to come into the game to escape the jam or, as the Blue Jays are facing, there are 2 spots in the rotation and you only have 3 reliable healthy starters. There are already so many injuries to pitchers and you really need 5 traditional starters that can eat innings as opposed to a bullpen game. 
• The rest of the bullpen held the Marlins to a run on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3 over the last 8 innings. Spencer Miles was credited with the win and Adam Macko and Yariel Rodriguez both retired every batter they faced
• The bats came through big time starting with Ernie Clement going deep and capped off with Jesus Sanchez crushing a grand slam. From top to bottom the lineup raked tonight. They say hitting is contagious and hopefully this is the start of the offence busting out 
• Every Blue Jays starter except Andres Gimenez and Lenyn Sosa had a hit and all but Gimenez either scored a run or drove in a run
• And the injury bug keeps on biting the Blue Jays in the butt. This time Spencer Miles was hit in the leg by a comebacker and four Blue Jays were hit by pitches. Everyone was able to finish the game, but the ice packs will be used plenty tonight
• The Marlins were a perfect 3-0 on ABS challenges and Brandon Valenzuela was unsuccessful on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 3-8 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the rubber match of this series as the Blue Jays try to extend the winning streak to 2 games and notch their 8th series win and 3rd season series win of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Marlins righty Eury Perez

Game #55 Miami Marlins (26-29) v. Toronto Blue Jays (25-29)

Game #54 Miami Marlins (25-29) v. Toronto Blue Jays (25-28)

 

Game #53 - Pittsburgh Pirates (27-26) @ Toronto Blue Jays (25-28) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement drove in the Blue Jays only run in a 4-1 loss to the Pirates

After a huge win on the backs of a 3-run rally in the 6th and a fine effort from starter Patrick Corbin, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 5 games and complete their 2nd sweep of the season and first season series sweep of the season. Dylan Cease got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto was back at the hot corner after the complete day off yesterday and Ernie Clement was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 5 games and complete their 2nd series sweep and 1st season series sweep of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Pirates took the lead in the top of the 1st as Spencer Horwitz led off the game with a solo bomb to the 3rd deck in right
• The Pirates added a run in the top of the 2nd as Oneil Cruz hammered a solo bomb to the 3rd deck in right
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Ernie Clement singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 2R (both earned) 1BB 8K 76 pitches (49 for strikes) - left with a hamstrain strain
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left the game in the bottom of  the 5th after getting drilled in the right elbow by a pitch
• The Pirates added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Esmerlyn Valdez whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right
• Mitch Keller pitching line: 6IP  4H 1R (earned) 3BB 5K 101 pitches (62 for strikes)
• Gregory Soto pitched a scoreless 9th for his 5th save of the season
• Final score: Pirates 4 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Dylan Cease gave up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 8.  He was taken deep twice, but was otherwise solid. The bigger concern is that he left the game with hamstring tightness. The Blue Jays can ill afford to lose Cease for even one start.
• The bullpen gave up a pair of runs on 2 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4 over the last 4.1 innings. Yariel Rodriguez had a bounceback appearance after a couple of rough outings. Brayden Fisher also had a clean inning.
• Offensively, Ernie Clement drove in the Blue Jays only run. Here's hoping Vlad doesn't miss more than a game.
• The Pirates were 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays did not have an ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 1-12 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the home stand continues as the Blue Jays welcome the Marlins to town. The Marlins took the season series last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 15-13. Trey Yesavage starts against Marlins righty Janson Junk