Brewers 4 Jays 8
After a couple of poor offensive performances, it was nice to see the Jays put up some runs. The Brewers gloves helped out some, but we had 13 hits. Two each for George Springer, Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, Ernie Clement (back from the hand injury), and Myles Straw.
Amazingly, since he’s been so good lately, the only Jay not to get a hit was Bo Bichette.
The Jays scored:
- Three in the first: Springer was hit by pitch (seventh time this year, I figured it would be more). Barger struck out. Vladimir Guerrero reached on an error on what looked like a double play ball, putting runners on second and third. Bo struck out. Then Nathan Lukes doubled. Ernie Clement popped on up to medium right center, but it landed and we were up 3-0.
- One in the second: Myles Straw walked and Springer doubled him home.
- One in the fourth: With two out, Springer, Barger and Vlad all singled, Vlad getting the RBI on an infield single.
- Three in the fifth: With one out, Clement and Andrés Giménez each singled, and Tyler Heineman doubled to bring home one. Straw singled to bring home the other two.
Max Scherzer had his worst start of the season. Just four innings, nine hits, four earned, no walks and a strikeout.
He gave up two home runs.
It could have been worse, he got out of the fourth when the Brewers, with runners on the corners, tried a double steal. Heineman threw to Giménez but he just threw back home, perfect throw getting an easy out. Great baseball.
And in the third, with the Brewers already scoing two runs, had runners on first and second, Andrew Vaughn hit a line drive to center. Straw made the catch and a great throw to third to get the runner tagging up. A very good play.
Brendon Little started the fifth, and ummm, it was words I can’t use on the site. He gave up a single. And then a soft bouncer that Little just couldn’t pick up. He just got in a rush and instead of using his glove, he tried to use his bare hand. Next batter, again soft grounder, right to Little. He picked it up, looked to third, and no one was there because Clement had to go after the ball. Looked to second, nope. Threw low to Vlad, safe—bad baseball. Next batter bounces one straight to Little, and this time, he underhanded home to get the out. They might have had a shot at two if he had thrown home overhand, but getting the out was big. It is too bad; he could have used a good outing to get back on track, and Little, the pitcher, was very good. Little, the fielder, was awful. The trouble is that when you are a ground ball pitcher, you are going to have to make some plays.
John brought in Tommy Nance who got a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning, amazingly without a run scoring.
Nance came out for the seventh. He got a line out to left (great catch by Lukes. Then a single. Out come Nancy, in comes Louis Varland (who hasn’t been good for us. But he gets two strikeouts. Still up 8-4.
Varland had a nice 3-up 3-down seventh, with one more strikeout.
Seranthony Dominguez threw a quick eighth. Nice to see both the deadline pickups have good days.
Jeff Hoffman, fresh off yesterday’s disaster, came in for the ninth. He got a strikeout, a line out (nice catch Straw). Then a double off the center field wall. I thought Varsho could have got to that, but up four, I guess no harm in playing it safe. Then a soft grounder that Ernie Clement picked up well short of third base and made a nice throw to Vlad, but just a little late (Jays challenged, but he was safe). Thankfully a 5-3 ground out ended the game.
Jays of the Day: Nance (.210), Vlad (.174), Springer (.170) and Lukes (.113, plus the catch in left). I’m going to give one to Straw too for his 8-5 double play, plus two hits, 2 RBI. And Heineman for the (2-4-2 caught stealing and the RBI). Honourable mention to Clement too, 2 hits with a sore hand.
Other Award: Scherzer (-.207. I’m not going to get too worried, first bad start since coming back to the roster), Little (-.143….good pitching, bad defense). Bo had a -.085, but he’s been so good lately, we’ll get him a pass. He did take a walk.
Tomorrow the Jays have an afternoon game in Cincinnati (WKRP). 1:00 Eastern start. Chris Bassitt (11-7, 4.14) vs. Hunter Greene (5-4, 2.81).
