Blue Jays 5 Cardinals 4 (10 innings)
The Jays had to work hard to make this another comeback win.
So, who had Clase hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth (not a cheapy, 415 feet)? What a fantastic moment for Clase. I wanted a pinch hitter in that spot. Of course, I wanted a pinch hitter for Ernie Clement batting just before, and he popped out.
The next at bat ended strangely. Bo Bichette stepped out of the box on a 2-2 pitch, apparently calling time (though the replay didn’t show it). The umpire didn’t give him time, and the pitch was in the zone for strike three. That would look big when Vladimir Guerrero hit a hard ground ball that went under the third baseman’s glove for a double. But Addison Barger struck out to end the inning.
Until the bottom of the eighth, it looked like the Jays had this game in hand.
Jose Berrios was terrific. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and just one strikeout. He was in charge all game. He gave up a two-out double in the seventh, and I was okay with him leaving the game with a 3-0 lead. Let him leave the game feeling good about himself.
Brendon Little got the last out of the inning. But Little didn’t have as much luck in the eighth. He gave up a walk, got a strikeout, gave up a single, got a strikeout. Then Yariel Rodriguez came in and gave up a one-run single and a three-run homer to Iván Herrera, and we were behind suddenly.
Rodriguez pitched a great bottom of the ninth, with two strikeouts. Taking us to extra innings.
Extra innings:
Top of the 10th:
Addison Barger at second base.
Kirk got his fourth hit of the ninth, and his second double, bringing Barger home. Alan Roden pinch ran for Kirk. Springer walked. Giménez put down a nice sac bunt. The Cardinals intentionally walked Nathan Lukes, which turned out to be a brilliant move, because Clement ground one to first, and, with the bases loaded, he could get the force at third and throw to first for the double play. It would have been nice to add to the lead.
Bottom of the 9th:
Victor Scott, who was the potential tying run at second. Jeff Hoffman in to pitch.
Hoffman gets Lars Nootbaar to strike out. Masyn Winn to ground out, nice play, Giménez. And Brendan Donovan to line out to center. Save #16 for Hoffman.
We scored:
One in the first: With two out, Barger singled. Then Kirk singled. George Springer doubled home Barger. Unfortunately, it ended there. Why was Andrés Giménez batting sixth?
One in the second: With one out, Ernie Clement doubled and, an out later, Bo Bichette singled him home.
One in the eighth: Alejandro Kirk homered (just clearing the wall in center field, 404 feet). That made it 3-0 and it looked well in hand.
Then, of course, the run in the ninth to tie and in the tenth to win.
We had 13 hits, so we should have scored more, but that’s an evergreen statement this season.
Kirk had four hits (two doubles, one home run). Vlad and Clase had two. Clase had the game-tying home run in the ninth and a bunt single. Davis Schneider was the only starter not to get a hit, but he did have a walk.
Jays of the Day: Hoffman (.435 WPA), Berrios (.381), Clase (.339) and Kirk (.334).
Other Award: Rodriguez (-.633, but that quick ninth was important), Clement (-.261, 1 for 5), and Barger (-.133, 1 for 5, 3 strikeouts).
Tomorrow we have Chris Bassitt (6-3, 3.56) vs. Mike Mikolas (4-2, 3.96). It is a 7:45 Eastern start.