Royals 4 Blue Jays 1
Our starting pitchers are going to sue the hitters for lack of support.
Tonight, Jose Berrios gave up just 2 runs in 7 innings. In the second, Sal Perez led off with a single, and Michael Massey followed with a home run (his first of the year), and that was all the runs the Royals would need.
Jose pitched 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 2 runs, and he got the L.
Erik Swanson gave up two more runs in the eighth. With two outs, Maikel Garcia singled and then stole second. Bobby Witt went to 2-2 before hitting a double to left. The pitch Witt hit was very low and inside, but he still hit it hard. I can’t complain about the pitch; just sometimes, the hitter does a great job.
Génesis Cabrera gave up a double, making it 4-1, ending any hope we had for the last two innings.
Zach Pop pitched a clean ninth, with a strikeout, in his first game for the Jays this season.
On offense, we managed 4 hits and 3 walks. Bo Bichette and IKF were the only Jay to reach base twice with a hit and a walk.
On our first hit, the play didn’t even end with a runner on base. With one out in the second, Davis Schneider lined one down the right-field line that Hunter Renfroe took on the first bounce. Davis rounded first hard but then slowed, like he was taking the single, but then sped up again and was thrown out fairly easily. I was sure I could hear the Jays dugout chanting ‘one of us’ right after. Just one of those brain-dead moments.
We wouldn’t get another hit until the sixth inning. Isiah Kiner Falefa led off with a single. After strikeouts by George Springer and Cavan Biggio (Springer looks lost at the plate), Vladimir Guerrero singled IFK to third. Then Bo Bichette singled him home. And that was our last hit of the game.
Jays of the Day: Bichette (.123), Berrios (.090) and IKF (.083)
The Other Award: Turner (-.152, the day after he was the hero), Biggio (-.159), Springer (-.121), Swanson (-.110) and Schneider (-.110).
There were some good moments. Alejandro Kirk threw out his 7th base stealer (37% caught stealing rate) with the help of a great tag by Bo.
Springer looked good defensively in center. And we turned a couple of very nice double plays.
Tomorrow we have an afternoon game. 3:00 Eastern start. Chris Bassitt (2-4, 5.64) vs. Seth Lugo (4-12, 1.66).