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

Game #115 Toronto Blue Jays (66-48) @ Colorado Rockies (30-82)

 

Game #114 Toronto Blue Jays (66-48) @ Colorado Rockies (30-82) - game recap

 

Bo Bichette homered twice and drove in 6 runs in a 15-1 rout over the Rockies

After an ugly extra innings loss caused by the bullpen imploding, the Blue Jays hit the road, starting in Colorado tonight. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, but the Rockies outscored the Blue Jays 15-14. Eric Lauer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Chad Green cleared waivers and was released. Eric Lauer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette got the half day off as DH with Ernie Clement at SS. Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Joey Loperfido was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays start the week and road trip with a win? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Bo Bichette singled scoring Nathan Lukes
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 2nd as Davis Schneider singled scoring Ernie Clement 
• The Blue Jays added three runs in the top of the 3rd as Daulton Varsho drilled a 3--run blast to the second deck in right-center; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger
• Two batters later,  Joey Loperfido singled scoring Clement
• A batter later, Schneider doubled scoring Loperfido. Schneider was thrown out at 3rd trying to stretch the double into a triple
• Two batters later, Bichette whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Lukes
• Tanner Gordon pitching line: 2.2IP 11H 7R (all earned) 0BB 1K 67 pitches (42 for strikes)
• The Rockies got one back in the bottom of the 5th as Ezequiel Tovar singled scoring Tyler Freeman
• The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Lukes singled scoring Clement
• A batter later, Bichette hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Lukes and Loperfido 
• Four batters later, Varsho singled scoring Barger
• Eric Lauer pitching line: 6IP 7H 1R (earned) 1BB 4K 97 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th on a ground-rule double by Clement that scored Ty France
• Final score: Blue Jays 15 Rockies 1

My Take:

• Eric Lauer pitched 6 strong innings,  giving up a run on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. He got a huge play from his battery mate Alejandro Kirk, who gunned down a runner at 1B. Lauer then proceeded to strike out the batter he was facing to get out of the inning.  Lauer had to endure long waits between the innings due to some big innings by the Blue Jays offense and that may have affected his momentum a bit. Nevertheless, Lauer didn't need to be perfect today. At this point, there's no way you can take Lauer out of the rotation when Shane Bieber and Alek Manoah are ready to return from their Tommy John surgeries. Likely,  the Blue Jays will go to a 6-man rotation nd use Manoah as a long man out of the bullpen.
• The bullpen gave a hit and a walk over the last 2 innings. Brayden Fisher struck out the side and Mason Fluharty pitched the last two innings and made it look easy in the 9th. Fisher may be on a playoff roster, but Fluharty may not be.
• The bats absolutely came alive with the team ready to punish whoever dared pitch to them after a tough stretch. Bo Bichette homered twice (driving in 6 runs), Daulton Varsho launched a 3-run blast (driving in 4 total). Heck, even Davis Schneider drove in a pair.
• Every single Blue Jay except Tyler Heineman reached base. Every starter either drove in a run or scored a run.
• The Blue Jays were 8-15 with runners in scoring position\
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for 2 straight wins, 20 series wins and 13 season series wins on the season. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Rockies righty Anthony Molina.

Game #114 Toronto Blue Jays (65-48) @ Colorado Rockies (30-81)