Blue Jays 4 Guardians 5 (10 innings)
Max Scherzer’s first start after coming off the IL didn’t end with the trainer walking him off the field, so let’s call it a success.
He went 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 earned, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Not awful. More or less, the best you can hope for from a guy coming off a long stint on the IL. He threw 83 pitches, so next time out he could be around 90 pitches.
On offense, we, say it with me, should have scored more.
We got a run in the fourth, Vlad hit his 11th homer.
And three more in the sixth. Addison Barger had a one-out single, Vlad walked on four pitches (after the homer in his last at bat, it seemed like Gavin Williams was afraid to throw a strike). Alejandro Kirk walked to load the bases, bringing up George Springer, who had a grand slam yesterday. Today he just singled home two. And Ernie Clement hit a fly ball deep enough to score Kirk. 4-3 Jays.
Unfortunately, Nick Sandlin gave up a Lane Thomas home run in the sixth, and we were back tied.
Brendon Little threw two scoreless innings. Jeff Hoffman had one scoreless,
Mason Fluharty came in for the tenth with the winning runner on second. Tough spot. They intentionally walked the first batter, and the next put down a sac bunt, but Andrés Giménez was slow getting to first, so the bases were loaded with none out. A single by Jose Rameriz ended things. nfred
We should have scored more:
We loaded the bases in the Eighth. Vlad was hit by pitch (he didn’t seem happy, coming as close to staring down the pitcher as I’ve ever seen from him). Kirk singled and came out for a pinch runner. Springer had a swinging bunt, moving the runners to second and third. They intentionally walked Nathan Lukes. But Clement and Alan Roden struck out to end the fun.
And in the tenth, Vlad was the Manfred Man. Heineman struck out (into the game because they pinch ran for Kirk in the eighth. Springer walk. Lukes hit a fly ball that moved up Vlad. Springer stole second. But Clement ground out, and that was the game,
We had 7 hits and 5 walks. Springer had two hits. Lukes, Clement and Roden had 0 fors.
Jays of the Day: Little (.190 WPA), Hoffman (.133), Vlad (.188, homer, walk, hit by pitch), Kirk (.147), and Springer (.232).
Other Award: Fluharty (-.193), Scherzer (-.148), Sandlin (-.115), Roden (-.299), Clement (-.249), Heineman (-.118, all on one at bat) and Barger (-.099).
Tomorrow we have a day game, 1:00 Eastern. Kevin Gausman (5-6, 4.60) vs. Tanner Bibee (4-7, 3.86).