Game #56 - Miami Marlins (26-31) @ Toronto Blue Jays (27-29) - game recap

 

After a win thanks to a 6-run 6th inning capped by a Jesus Sanchez grand slam?, the Blue Jays were looking to make it 2 straight wins and notch their 7th series win and 2nd season series win of the season. Tanner Andrews was optioned to AAA-ball and lefty Aaron Voth was added to the big league roster. Alejandro Kirk was transferred to the 60 day IL. The Blue Jays also acquired righty Connor SeaWorld from the Tigers for minor league lefty Juanmi Vasquez.  Jose Berrios was transferred to the 60-day IL. Kevin Gausman got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate.  George Springer got the full day off with Jesus Sanchez serving as DH. Vlad was back in the lineup after missing a couple of days after getting drilled in the elbow by a pitch in the right elbow. Nathan Lukes got the start in RF. Could the Blue Jaysmake it 2 straight wins and notch their 7th series win and 2nd season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Marlins opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Otto Lopez singled scoring Xavier Edwards
• Eury Perez pitching line: 4IP 3H 0R 0BB 9K 73 pitches (48 for strikes)
• The Blue jays tied it up in the bottom of the 5th as Nathan Lukes doubled scoring Tyler Heineman
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5IP 6H 1R (earned) 2BB 5K 95 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue jays took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Kazuma Okamoto whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right-field and into the Marlins bullpen 
• Tyler Rogers pitched a perfect 9th for his 2nd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Marlins 1

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman battled through 5 innings, giving up s run on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. He was working his way in and out of jams most of the day. Also not his most efficient outing, needing almost 100 pitches to get 15 outs. He seems to be having a regression year. Hopefully his trajectory doesn't continue in this path.
• The bullpen threw 4 scoreless innings, scattering 5 hits, walking none and striking out 3. I've said all along that Tyler Rogers should be the closer.  He's been the Blue Jays best pitcher and doesn't mess around when he's on the mound. Jeff Hoffman, who went 2 innings, was credited with the win. 
• The offense did just enough to win the day. Nathan Lukes came through with a clutch hit in the 5th and Kazuma Okamoto went deep to the opposite field in right-center. Despite a sore elbow, Vlad was the most effective hitter with 2 hits and drawing a walk. Heck he even managed to steal a base
• The Marlins were successful in the only ABS challenge of the day. 
• The Blue jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays head to Baltimore to face their division rivals in the Orioles for the first time this season. The Blue jays took the season series last year 7-6, but the Orioles outscored the Blue Jays 80-70. Patrick Corbin starts against Orioles righty and old friend Chris Bassitt. 

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)