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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.