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Nathan Lukes scored the Blue Jays only run in a 4-1 loss to the Red Sox |
After a final off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays kicked off the final homestand and week of the regular season. They welcomed the Red Sox to town. The Blue Jays won 7 of the first 10 games in the season series outscoring the Red Sox 45-44. Anthony Santander was activated from the 60-day IL, Ty France was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain and Alek Manoah was DFA'd. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejadro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as Sunday's playoff-clinching victory in KC. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
-daGame Highlights:
- The Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Nathaniel Lowe singled scoring Masataka Yoshida
- The Blue jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th on a fielder's choice hit by Andres Gimenez that scored Nathan Lukes
- Lucas Giolito pitching line: 4.2IP 3H 1R (earned) 4BB 3K 98 pitches (61 for strikes)
- The Red Sox retook the lead in the top of the 6th as Lowe singled th scoring Romy Gonzalez
- Two batters later, Carlos Narvaez doubled scoring Lowe and Wilyer Abreu
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5.2IP 9H 4R (all earned) 1BB 7K 92 pitches (63 for strikes)
- Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect 9th for his 32nd save of the season
- Final score: Red Six 4 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman battled through 5.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7. Hr had a tough 6th inning, giving up the three runs that turned out to be the difference in the game, While he'll likely start one of the first couple ofd games in a wild card series, unless he turns into Don Larson and throws a perfect game, he won't be able to win if the Blue Jays offence is as anemic as it was tonight.
- The bullpen threw 3.1 scoreless innings, walking 2 and striking out 2. Louis Varland, Mason Fluharty and Tommy Nance retired every batter they faced
- As for the offence, one measley run on a fielder's choice. To be fair, the Blue Jays got another horrible break when a ball that was clearly hit fair by George Springer and would have scored a couple of runs was called foul and upheld on replay. At the same time, Springer should have fouled off the next pitch to stay alive. At this point, I start Anthony Santander tomorrow to see if he can contribute to a playoff roster.
- The Yankees won, whittling the Blue Jays lead in the AL East to just a single game (2 really since the tiebreaker belongs to the Blue Jays)
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and try to avoid their 19th series loss of the season. Max Scherzer start against Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet