Blue Jays 3 Twins 4
That was irritating.
Joe Ryan left the game with a sore elbow after walking the second batter and we had to think we had a good chance.
But no.
Trey Yesavage wasn’t good, but then only gave up one run. In four innings he allowed five hits, three walks and six strikeouts. He got the outs when he needed and got the luck when he needed. In the third, with a runner on first, Trey gave up a hard hit double down the third base line, it looked like it would score a run, but it bounced over
the wall in left for a ground rule double. A walk and strikeout ended the inning without that run scoring.
Unfortunately, Braydon Fisher didn’t have that sort of luck. He gave up three earned while getting just two outs, making it a 4-0 game.
The rest of the pen was good: Joe Mantiply (three outs), Tommy Nance (four outs) and Jeff Hoffman (three outs) didn’t allow a run.
The offense got 11 hits, but only went 1 for 11 with RISP.
We scored:
- One in the sixth: Vladmir Guerrero and Jesús Sánchez started it off with singles, to give us runners on the corners. After a Lenyn Sosa strikeout, Daulton Varsho (against a lefty pitcher), put down a very nice bunt single (just barely safe at first) bringing in the run. But an Ernie Clement line out, Andrés Giménez hit by pitch and Tyler Heineman fly out didn’t score anyone. Questioning why we didn’t pinch hit for Tyler is fair. We were down one on the bench, I’m pretty sure there was no chance George Springer would come into the game. But Heineman came out of the game before the top of the inning. Shi Davidi says it was a manager’s decision. I don’t understand that. If you weren’t going to pinch hit for him, why take him out? It makes no sense. Punishing him for the fly out? That’s stupid. Must be more to it.
- Two in the ninth: With one out (Brandon Valenzuela strikeout), Myles Straw singled and Kazuma Okamoto homered. Then Vlad singled (hard hit right through Twins second baseman Royce Lewis. Could have been called an error, but then it was hit at 112.2 mph, so would be a very tough error. Sánchez singled again, putting the tying run on second. But Sosa ground into a double play to end the game. After going 5 for 9, the last two games, Sosa had an 0 for 5, with 2 strikeouts and that double play, today.
We had baserunners and didn’t score in:
- The first, 2 on.
- The second, 1 on.
- The fourth, 1 on.
- The fifth, 1 on.
- The eighth, 2 on.
Sánchez had 3 hits. Vlad and Daulton (his double was our only extra base hit) 2. Sosa (0 for 5), Clement (0 for 3, walk) and Heineman (0 for 3).
On Heineman:
This seems pretty random. Lots of players had bad at bats. I don’t see why you would humiliate Tyler (as much as he’s not hitting at all this year, but then, that’s his MO (other than last year). If you were going to take him out the time to do it was before the at bat in the sixth, not after.
It seems like the move of a frustrated manager (which I can understand), but it is weird.
Jay of the Day: Sánchez (.15 WPA). Trey was close (0.8), but he really had a tough time of it. It is a sign of a good pitch when you can battle through bad stuff and only give up one run.
Honourable mention to Varsho. That sac bunt was terrific and he doubled in the eighth.
Other Award: Sosa (-.41, a huge negative), Fisher (-.17), and Heineman (-.13).
Tomorrow, the Jays are in the fourth circle of hell that is Tampa. Eric Lauer will likely be starter or bulk guy. Nick Martinez (2-1, 1.70).
