Blue Jays 6 Phillies 7 (12 innings)
Until the top of the eighth, it looked like we weren’t going to put up a fight.
With two outs in the eighth, Alejandro Kirk singled. Then, after fouling a pitch off his knee and spending a few minutes fighting off the pain of that, Kazuma Okamoto singled. Then Ernie Clement doubled in one. And Andrés Giménez singled home two more, tying the game.
Before that, we got a run in the fourth. With one out, Vladimir Guerrero doubled. A wild pitch moved him to third (a closer
play at third than I would have liked) and Alejandro Kirk singled him home/
And a run in the fifth. Myles Straw had a one-out single. Josh Smith bunted him to second (not a fan of one out bunts). Davis Schneider walked (with a wild pitch in their to move Straw to third). And Brett Bateman singled in the run.
We really should have taken the lead in the ninth. Josh Smith led off with a walk. Nathan Lukes beat out a bunt single. The plan was just a bunt, but Lukes got down the line fast. But Bateman, after failing to bunt twice, stuck out and Vlad hit into a double play. Giménez also chased for a strike out.
Shane Bieber wasn’t good. 5.2 innings, 6 hits, 5 earned, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. He gave up home runs to Kyle Schwarber twice. Just didn’t seem to have it today, but he walked less than six guys so an improvement.
Brendon Little got the last out of the sixth and the first two of the seventh, without giving up a run.
Spencer Miles got the last out of the seventh.
Tyler Rogers loaded the bases in the eighth but got out of it.
Mason Fluharty pitched a clean ninth.
Extra innings:
10th Inning:
Top:
Springer pinch ran to be the Manfred Man. Kirk up. A Kirk fly ball moved Springer to third. Okamoto walked. Clement, chasing a pitch above the zone, struck out. Giménez also chased for a strike out.
Bottom:
J.T. Realmuto is the Manfred Man. Brandon Fisher in. A sac bunt and an intentional walk, and a steal gave the Phillies runners on second and third. A popout gave us two outs. And a line ended it.
11th Inning:
Top:
Giménez is MM. Straw popped up a bunt for the first out. Smith tapped one to the pitcher. Lukes lined out to center.
Bottom:
Derek Hill on second. Fisher still in. We intentionally walked Schwarber to put the double play in order. Turner popped up a bunt, that Braydon Fisher dropped it, but threw to third for the easy out. A walk loaded the bases. A line drive to Lukes in right looked to deep enough to score, but Nathan made an amazing throw, getting the third out. Great job Nathan.
12th:
Top:
Lukes on second. Bateman singled, giving us runners on the corners. Sanchez hit into a double play, but scored the runner at third. Sanchez was just out at first. It was bobbled at second. Jays challenged the play at second, but didn’t get the call. Kirk popped out.
Bottom:
Lazaro Estrada in for the Jays. Luis Arraez at second. J.T. Realmuto bunted and was safe at first. Tying run at third. Stott singled on a full count. Tied again. Winning run at second. Marsh flies out deep, runners on the corners, one out. They intentionally walked Alec Bohm, loading the bases. Derek Hill gets a ground ball through the drawn in infield.
Jays of the Day: Fisher (0.63), Fluharty (0.14) and Rogers (0.11).
Other Award: Estrada (-0.55, tough spot), Bieber (-0.25), Guerrero (-0.26), Clement (-0.17), Straw (-0.19), and Sánchez (-0.10).
Tough loss, but at least a good game.
