Blue Jays 5 Phillies 3
After last night’s terrible game, I didn’t have high hopes for today. Chris Bassitt has been inconsistent, and I didn’t think the Phillies were a good matchup for him. I was wrong.
Bassitt gave up a single in the third (along with two walks and a sac fly) and then didn’t give up another hit until one out in the seventh (and followed that one with a double that ended his day). He went 6.1 innings, giving up 3 hits, 2 earned, 2 walks (both in that third inning) with 6 strikeouts. He did get some help on some nice defence.
Zach Pop got the last two outs of the seventh (giving up the sac fly for the second earned run for Bassitt) and the first out of the eighth.
Tim Mayza got the last two outs of the eighth, allowing a double.
Jordan Romano pitched the ninth, giving up two singles and a double, putting the tying run at second with just one out, but he got Kody Clemens and Whit Merrifield to pop out, ending the game and picking up his fifth save of the year.
On defense, Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier collided in the first inning, hard. Kevin took the worst of it, but stayed in the game (making that catch despite the body check) and made a terrific catch later. And George Springer made a terrific catch in foul territory in right.
The bats had a pretty good day, getting 12 hits. Kiermaier and Vlad had three singles each (and Vlad had the two hardest-hit balls of the game, 115 and 113 mph). Davis Scheider had 2 hits, including a double. The only players to go 0 for were Varsho (0 for 4, walk, 3 strikeouts) and Justin Turner (0 for 5).
We scored:
- 1 in the third: Springer had a one-out single, stole second and scored on a Guerrero single.
- 3 in the sixth: Vlad led off with a single. Danny Jansen doubled. Bo Bichette singled one hone. Davis Schneider singled another home. And Kiermaier singled the third home.
- 1 in the eighth: Davis walked. IKF had a hit-and-run single to move him to third. And Kiermaier had a soft liner that just got over the infield, scoring our fifth run.
Jays of the Day: Vlad (.145 WPA), Kiermaier (.131), Pop (.128), Bassitt (.117) and Davis (.096).
The Other Award: Turner (-.111).
Tomorrow’s another off-day, and then the Twins will come to Toronto for three games.