Game #112 Kansas City Royals (55-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (65-47) - game recap

 

Davis Schneider hit a 2-run single in a 4-2 win over the Royals

After a decisive loss last night due to the pitchers being unable to prevent runs as of late, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Ty France at 1B. Myles Straw was in CF and Addison Barger was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays even the series? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Davis Schneider singled scoring Tyler Heineman and Myles Straw. Royals RF John Rave was charged with a fielding error on the play
• Three batters later, Bo Bichette singled home Schneider
• Tyler Heineman was removed from the game prior to the top of the 4th after getting leveled by a pitch off the mask in thr top of  the 3rd.
• The Royals got one back in the top of the 6th as Salvador Perez whacked q solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 6IP 5H 1R (earned) 0BB 5K 84 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The Royals got one back in the top of the 7th on a sac bunt by Kyle Isbel that scored Adam Frazier 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Ernie Clement singled scoring Joey Loperfido 
• Noah Cameron pitching line: 6.1IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 1K 94 pitches (61 for strikes)
• Jeff Hoffman pitched a perfect 9th for his 26th save of the season.
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Royals 2

My Take:

• Mazz Scherzer pitched 6 solid innings, giving up a run on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 5. Scherzer retired 9 of the first 11 batters he faced.  There is only one pitch he'll want back, when Salvador Perez took him deep in his final inning. Could Scherzer have gone an extra inning, considering he was at 84 pitches after 6 innings? Probably, but pulling him early might mean he's fresh for a possible playoff game if Shane Bieber or Alek Manoah have a setback in their return from tommy john surgery.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 1 hit while walking none and striking out 2 over the last 3 innings. Seranthony Dominguez has made the best early impression of the trade deadline. He is perfect over 3.1 innings and struck out 4 of his old teammates. He could be a key member of the back end of the bullpen.
• Offensively, Davis Schneider (2-run single), Ernie Clement (RBI single) and Bo Bichette (RBI single led the way
• Ty France got his first hit in a Blue Jays uniform and made some nice plays defensively at 1B. His defensive ability will afford the Blue Jays to give Vladdy a few days  off his feet as DH or perhaps complete days off
• The Blue Jays were 3-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch theit 20th series win of the season. Chris Bassitt starts against Royals righty Seth Lugo

Game #112 Kansas City Royals (55-55) v. Toronto Blue Jays (64-47)

 

Game #111 Kansas City Royals (54-55) v. Toronto Blue Jays (64-46)

 

Game #110 Toronto Blue Jays (64-46) @ Baltimore Orioles (50-59) - game recap

Nathan Lukes hit a 3- run HR in a 9-8 comeback win over the Orioles

After getting swept in the double header yesterday,  the Blue Jays were trying to snap unge 4-game skid and avoid getting swept for the 5th time this season. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Ali Sanchez behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Will Wagner at 1B. Bo Bichette was back in the field after DH'ing in the second game of the double header.  Davis Schneider was in LF and Joey Loperfido was in RF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4 game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time this season? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Orioles opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a sac fly by Adley Rutschman that scored Jackson Holliday
• A batter later,  Ryan O'Hearn hammered a 2-run bomb to right; also scoring Gunnar Henderson
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 2nd as Myles Straw whacked a 2- run blast to left- center; also scoring Addison Barger 
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Ali Sanchez
• The Orioles retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Jordan Westburg belted a 2-run jack to left-center; also scoring Alex Jackson
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 4.1IP 6H 5R (2 earned) 0BB 3K 73 pitches (49 for strikes)
• Dean Kremer pitching line: 5IP 6H 3R (all earned) 2BB 5K 87 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Straw doubled scoring Davis Schneider
• The Blue jays took the lead in the top of the 7th as Bo Bichette singled scoring Joey Loperfido and Ernie Clement 
• Three batters later,  Nathan Lukes drilled a 3-run blast to right; also scoring Barger and Bichette
• The Orioles got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Henderson singled scoring Holliday
• A batter later,  Westburg scored on a fielding error by Blue Jays 1B Ernie Clement on a ball hit by Rutschman 
• Two batters later, Henderson was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Colton Cowser 
• Jeff Hoffman threw a perfect 9th for his 25th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 9 Orioles 8

My Take:

• Jose Berrios battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 5 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits while walking none and striking out 3. A throwing error by Ernie Clement resulted in three unearned runs. He wasn't at his best, but he limited the damage after a rough 1st inning. 
• The bullpen gave up three runs (2 earned) on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 9 over the last 4.2 innings. Brandon Little, Seranthony Dominguez (who switched bullpen yesterday after a trade in the middle of yesterday's double header), Brayden Fisher and Jeff Hoffman all retired every batter they faced. Odd decision to use both lefty relievers back to back. It hindered the teams ability to match at the end of the ball game. 
• Myles Straw (3 RBI, including a 2- run HR), Vlad (RBI single), Bo Bichette (2-run single) and Nathan Lukes (3-run HR) drove the offense today
• Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once and all but Addison Barger,  Will Wagner and Davis Schneider had a hit 
• The Blue Jays were 3-9 with runners in scoring position
• Up next,  after an off-day/travel day, the Blue Jays open a brief homestand against the Kansas City Royals, who took the season series last year 5-2, outscoring the Blue Jays 26-18. Michael Wacha starts for the Royals. The Blue Jays haven't set their rotation for the series yet

Game #110 Toronto Blue Jays (63-46) @ Baltimore Orioles (50-58)