Tigers 3 Blue Jays 2
One of those catch-up games. Another one that we could have won with a timely hit.
José Berríos had a rough first inning, giving up a two-run double to Spencer Torkelson. After that, he had five good innings, giving up some baserunners, but keeping the Tigers off the board.
He left after six innings, with eight hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. He was at 83 pitches, making us wonder why he wasn’t allowed another inning, or at least to start another inning. But then, he was giving up a lot of base runners. Maybe they felt he was pitching under the stress of having guys on enough.
Mason Fluharty came in for the seventh and wasn’t great, giving up a one-out walk and single. After getting two outs, John went to the right-hander, Braydon Fisher, to face Torkelson, but he hit a single, scoring the go-ahead run. The Jays got Andy Ibáñez going for third, ending the inning, but giving up a go-ahead run that late in the game is tough.
We had a shot to tie things up in the bottom of the inning. Nathan Lukes led off with a walk. But Jonatan Clase struck out when we needed him to move up the runner. Then Bo went to 3-1, before striking out. Vlad walked, but the Tigers brought in a lefty to face and strike out Varsho.
The Jays got their two runs in the fourth. Vlad walked, Varsho doubled, and Kirk singled to bring home Vlad. Two outs later, Ernie Clement singled home Varsho.
We had chances. In the first, Bo and Vlad each had singles. Then Varsho lined one hard to the wall in left, but Akil Baddoo made a great catch. Then Kirk lined one to short left, but Baddoo made a nice sliding catch and doubled Bo off second. Tough spot for Bo, we all thought it would be a hit.
Then in the fifth, Clase singled and stole second. Bo took one of his rare walks. Vlad groundout to the first base side, and the runners moved up. But Varsho lined one right at the second baseman (.600 expected batting average), and Kirk ground one right down the third base line, which Torkelson made a nice play on.
Kirk reached on an infield single in the eighth, but Santander struck out. Addison Barger grounded out to second, Kirk out, but the throw to first was wide, and Barger made it to second. Clement hit a bouncer to third to end the inning.
Fluharty (02 innings, with the earned run), Fisher (1.1 inning, allowed the inherited runner to score) and Yimi Garcia (1.0, a scoreless ninth) did a pretty good job in relief, but with our offense, there is no room to allow a run.
Another walkoff ninth would have been good. Lukes had an eight-pitch at bat, but ground out. Springer came in to pinch-hit. He struck out on six pitches. Bo was our last hope. He reached on a ground ball right at the third baseman (Andy Ibáñez), who booted it. Vlad went to a full count on many pitches at the zone’s edges but then ground out.
We had seven hits and four walks, but only one extra-base hit (Varsho’s double). Kirk was the only batter with two hits.
Jay of the Day: Berríos (.091).
Other Award: Santander (-.230 for an 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts), Barger (-.178, 0 for 4, 1 k), Varsho (-.115, 1 for 4, 1 k) and Fisher (-.112)
Tomorrow is an off-day, and then the Padres are in town.