Jays 7 Pirates 3
What a terrific start from Max Scherzer. He went six innings, allowing four hits, one earned, three walks with four strikeouts. He did get some help from a couple of terrific catches by Myles Straw. 104 pitches for Max, more than I’d like to see him throw, but he finished strong.
He did walk a couple of batters, and then give up a single, to load the bases with no outs in the second, but the Pirates scored just the one run. That was the only inning that he had much trouble.
Here is
one of those two great catches, the other he went back to the wall to make a jumping catch.
On offense we scored:
- Three in the first: George Springer, leading off, was hit by pitch (not intentional). Springer immediately stole second. I love that, get hit, turn it into a double. Addison Barger and Bo Bichette walked. Alejandro Kirk singled to deep right field. Bryan Reynolds had a bead on it, but just missed it. Barger at second had to wait to be sure it was a hit and stopped at third. With no outs, no need to take any chances. But Kirk wasn’t watching Bo in front of him, who had to stop at second. Kirk was halfway before noticing and an easy out. Always watch the running in front of you. Even if it is a sure thing they are going, they might slip or something. Oh well. Nathan Lukes singled home two.
- Two in the second: Straw walked and stole second. Springer followed with a home run (423 feet, 105.5 mph).
- Two in the seventh: Bo had a one-out walk and Kirk homered to center (409 feet, 108.5 mph).
The pen wasn’t light’s out:
- Louis Verland gave up a run in the seventh.
- Tommy Nance gave up a run in the eighth, though unearned. Nathan Lukes misplayed a ball in the outfield, turning a single into a double (well, a single plus error).
- Jeff Hoffman had a 1, 2, 3 ninth in a non-save spot.
There were a few minor misplays. Bo had a grounder go right through him. Andres Gimenez grabbed a grounder that he should have let Bo take, Bo was moving towards first, Andres away. Andres’ throw was late to first. Straw was a little slow getting a ball into the infield, letting Reynolds turn a single into a double.
Our defense hasn’t been sharp lately.
We had ten hits and four walks. Kirk had three. Springer and Lukes had two each. Barger (with a walk), Clement (two k) and Gimenez (walk) went 0 for.
Jays of the Day: Scherzer (.191 WPA), Springer (.156) and Lukes (.095). Let’s give Straw one too (.056, plus those two catches).
No one gets the other award. Clement gets the low mark at -.082.
Tomorrow we have a day game. 12:30 Eastern. Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22) vs Johan Oviedo making his second start of the season. The first one didn’t go well, one inning, two runs against, with three walks.
