Game #96 Toronto Blue Jays (55-41) @ Athletics (41-57) - game recap

 

Addison Barger hit a 2-run HR in a 6-3 loss to the A's to end the unofficial first half of the MLB season for the Blue Jays 

After dropping the game yesterday with a rally that fell a run short, the Blue Jays were looking to end the unofficial 1st half of the season and this road trip with a win and notch their 16th series win of the season. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Will Wagner at 1B. Nathan Lukes got the start in RF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner and Ernie Clement was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays end the unofficial 1st half and the road trip on a winning note and notch their 16th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The A's opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Austin Wynns belted a 2-run jack to left; also scoring Gio Urshela
• The A's added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Tyler Soderstrom hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Nick Kurtz
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 3IP 5H 4R (all earned 2BB 1K 61 pitches (36 for strikes)
• John Schneider was ejected in the top of the 5th on a foul ball call that remained after a challenge
• A pitch later, Davis Schneider hammered a solo bomb to left-center
• The A's added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning as Kurtz whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in left-center; also scoring Jacob Wilson
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 7th as Addison Barger drilled a 2-run bomb to right-center; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 
• Jeffrey Springs pitching line: 6.2IP 3H 3R (all earned) 0BB 5K 91 pitches (64 for strikes)
• Mason Miller threw a scoreless 9th for his 19th save of the season
• Final score: A's 6 Blue Jays 3

My Take:-

• Jose Berrios battled through 3 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 1. The A's took Berrios deep twice today. It was clear that Berrios didn't have his best stuff. It was a good move to pull him after 3 innings when he was at 61 pitches, rather than sending him out for a 4th inning on a warm day in Sacramento. Save a few bullets for the second half. Berrios finishes the 1st half with a 5-4 record and a 3.75ERA over 20 starts
• The bullpen, which included an appearance from starter Chris Bassitt, gave up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking 3 and struking out 6 over the last 5 innings. Both runs were charged to lefty Justin Bruihl, who gave up a 2-run HR. Bassitt and Brayden Fisher both retired every batter they faced
• Look for John Schneider to face supplementary discipline, likely a suspension for a few games for bumping umpire Tripp Gibson after a foul ball call was upheld after the Blue Jays challenged. You simply cannot bump an umpire no matter how bad the call is. For what it's worth, Schneider corrected his trajectory on the next pitch for a solo home run. In the end the home run didn't really impact the outcome of the game since the A's added 2 more runs in the bottom half of the inning and the Blue Jays were unable to put together any kind of substantial rally.
• Addison Barger ended his 1st half with a bang, taking A's starter Jeffrey Springs deep for 2 runs
• The Blue Jays did not get a single at-bat with a runner in scoring position (Vlad was at 1st base on Barger's 2-run HR)
• The Blue Jays enter the all-star break 1st in the AL East with a 2-game lead over the Yankees, who fell 4-1 to the upstart Cubs today. They enter the break with a 55-41 record, two games better than a certain 1993 team that won the Blue Jays last world series (that team was 53-43 after 96 games.)
• Up next, the all-star break and a much-needed reset after the team cooled off and dropped three of the last 4 games heading into the all-star break. When play resumes Friday, they will take on the San Francisco Giants. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, outscoring the Giants 18-14. Neither team has set their rotation for the series yet. The Blue Jays could run Jose Berrios out for back-to-back starts, since thst would be his regular day's rest. More likely though, they'll push him back a day or two and start either Kevin Gausman or Chris Bassitt.

Game #96 Toronto Blue Jays (55-40) @ Athletics (40-57)

 

Game #95 Toronto Blue Jays (55-40) @ Athletics (40-57) - game recap

 

Bo Bichette had a pair of hits and drove in a run in a losing effort as the A's came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 4-2

After eking out a win on the strength of a 6-run 4th inning, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 16th series win of the season. Kevin Gausman got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. George Springer got the start in RF with Alejandro Kirk serving as DH. Davis Schneider was in LF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner and Leo Jimenez got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins and notch their 16th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Leo Jimenez belted a solo jack to left-center 
• The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Bo Bichette doubled scoring Ernie Clement 
• The A's got one back in the bottom half or the inning as Lawrence Butler singled scoring Denzel Clarke
• Three batters later, Brent Rooker doubled home Butler
• The A's took the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Rooker whacked a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Nick Kurtz
• Jacob Lopez pitching line: 5IP
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5IP 5H 4R (3 earned) 2BB 2K 96 pitches (60 for strikes) 4H 2R (both earned) 2BB 5k 87 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th on a sac fly by Alejandro Kirk that scored Vladimir Guerrero Jr 
• Mason Miller threw a scoreless 9th for his 18th save of the season
• Final score: A's 4 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 his whole walking 2 and striking out 5. He was working in and out of jams most of the day. Gausman ends the unofficial first half with a 6-6 record and 4.19ERA over 19 starts
• The bullpen threw 3 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4. None of the relievers retired every batter they faced
• Offensively, Leo Jimenez got things started with a bang, going deep to left-center Bo Bichette had an RBI double and Alejandro Kirk had a sac fly 
• The Blue Jays were 1-12 with runners in scoring position - it seems the bats have cooled off
• Up next, the last game of the unofficial 1st half, which the Blue Jays will look to finish on a winning note, while notching their 16th series win of the season. Ace Jose Berrios starts against A's lefty Jeffrey Springs

Game #95 Toronto Blue Jays (55-39) @ Athletics (39-57)

 

Game #94 Toronto Blue Jays (55-39) @ Athletics (39-57) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded his 1000th career hit in a 7-6 win over the A's

After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened their final series in Sacramento, the temporary home of the A's. The Blue Jays swept the A's at the end of May, outscoring the A's 39-18. The Blue Jays traded Will Robertson to the White Sox for cash considerations. Ryan Burr was placed on the 60-day IL with a right rotator cuff strain. Righty Tommy Nance was added to the 40-man roster. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (George Springer served as DH today). Nathan Lukes was in LF (Joey Loperfido was a late scratch with an illness) and Addison Barger was in RF. Will Wagner got the start at the hot corner and Ernie Clement was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend and last series of the unofficial first half of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Ernie Clement that scored Bo Bichette
• Vladimie Guerrero Jr. hit a single in the top of the 5th to reach the 1000 hit milestone
• Two batters later, George Springer scored on a double steal
• Two batters later, Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger
• Three batters later, Myles Straw singled scoring Kirk
• a batter later, Nathan Lukes singled scoring Ernie Clement and Will Wagner
• Luis Severino pitching line: 4.2IP 7H 5R (1 earned) 2BB 8K 96 pitches (61 for strikes)
• The A's got a pair back in the bottom of the 6th as Nick Kurtz hammered a two-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Brent Rooker
• Two batters later, Tyler Soderstrom hammered a solo bomb to dead center 
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 6IP 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 8K 90 pitches (59 for strikes)
• The A's got one back in the bottom of the 9th as Max Muncy drilled a solo bomb to dead center
• Four batters later, Zack Gelof scored on a wild pitch by Jeff Hoffman
• Same batter, Rooker singled scoring Denzel Clarke 
• Final score:  Blue Jays 7 A's 6

My Take:

• Max Scherzer fired 6 solid innings, giving up three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out eight. The extra day of rest did wonders for the veteran righty with the cranky thumb. Scherzer was able to throw 90 pitches, which is very encouraging, especially considering his thumb was reportedly very swollen after his last start that he left after throwing 72 pitches in 4 innings. The Blue Jays definitely need to look at acquiring a pitcher at the trade deadline and using a six-man rotation in the second half.
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7 over the last 3 innings. The Blue Jays also need to look at acquiring a bullpen arm or two at the trade deadline. Your closer having an ERA over 5.00 is not ideal. Also, the health of Yimi Garcia and Nick Sandlin are in question. Ryan Burr is likely done for the year since the Blue Jays put him straight onto the 60-day IL since the MRI results obiously weren't encouraging. Yariel Rodriguez and Bryan Litlle both retired every batter they faced
• The offence did most of the damage in th 5th inning on a sloppy inning for Severino and the A's defense since just 2 of the 6 runs scored that inning were earned. Congrats to Vladdy on becoming the youngest Blue Jay to reach that milestone
• The Blue Jays were 4-11 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to seven games and notch their 16th series win of the season. Kevin Gausman starts against A's lefty Jacob Lopez