After sweeping the Atlanta Braves in a 3 game series, and then splitting a 4 game series in Oakland against the A’s, the Blue Jays finishes last week going 5-2. That was easily the best week of the season so far for Toronto, and they’d look to build off that for the next two series. The first series for the Blue Birds would be a 3 game set in Houston, before facing the Braves for another 3 game series, this time in Atlanta.
Here are all the results from last week’s games.
Game 1: Jays 4 – 10 Astros
The first game did not go the way the Jays had hoped as Ross Stripling only went 3 2/3 innings, leading to another 5 pitchers being used in only first game of the series. Meanwhile, Jose Urquidy gave up 2 runs through the first 3 innings but shut the Jays down after that going 7 strong innings. Bo Bichette, Danny Jansen, and Teo Hernandez all hit homers for Toronto, but that only led to 4 runs. The Astros put up 10 runs, while racking up 15 hits as they easily took the first game of the series.
Game 2: Jays 8 – 4 Astros
This was a nice rebound game for Toronto, and it would be Cavan Biggio getting the Jays out in front early, when he’d hit a 2-run HR in front of his dad, Craig, in the 2nd inning. The next inning, Danny Jansen would hit his 3rd HR in 3 games, followed by a double by Randal Grichuk that would cash in two more runs. The Astro clawed back, and made it a 5-4 game in the 8th inning, but Marcus Semien would get some insurance runs in the top of the 9th with a 3-run HR. Steven Matz picked up his 5th win of the season.
Game 3: Jays 4 – 7 Astros
In the rubber match of the series, Nate Pearson would make his season debut for Toronto, but it was a rough outing for the youngster. Pearson would only go 2 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits, while also walking 5 batters. Toronto were down 7-0 in the 5th, when the Blue Jays started making a comeback. The Jays scored 4 runs in the 5th, but that’s all they could muster, as the Astros pen did the rest and earned Houston the series win.
Jays Series Standout:
I’ll give this one to Danny Jansen. He had a really tough start to the year, but in the past couple series, he’s starting to strings some hits together.
Game 1: Jays 5 – 3 Braves
This was a back and fourth game the whole way, as the Braves took a 2-0 lead into the 6th inning. Vladdy would tie the game with one swing of the bat in the 6th with his 8th HR of the year, but Marcell Ozuna give Atlanta the lead right in the bottom half with a solo shot of his own. It would stay that way all the way to the 8th inning, where the Jays would manufacture 3 big runs, including an RBI infield single by Teo Hernandez, and an RBI walk by Cavan Biggio to give the Blue Jays a 5-3 lead. Tyler Chatwood and Jordan Romano would come in and shut the door to close out game 1.
Game 2: Jays 4 – 1 Braves
This game was quick, with both teams putting zero’s through 4 innings. William Contreras would open to the scoring in the bottom of the 5th with a solo HR off of Jays started Hyun Jin Ryu. That would be the only mistake as Ryu would go 7 innings only allowing the 1 run on 5 hits. Marcus Semien would tie the game for the Blue Jays by doubling in Cavan Biggio in the 6th, before Teoscar Hernandez would take over. Teo would hit a solo shot in the 7th before adding extra insurance in the 9th with a 2-run HR.
Game 3: Jays 8 – 4 Braves
The final game of the series was another close affair with Ronald Acuna Jr giving the Braves the lead in the 1st with a lead off home run. The Jays would manufacture a few runs in the 2nd and in the 5th, before Dansby Swanson would give the Braves the lead back with a 2-run shot making it 4-3. Cavan Bigio would double in Teo Hernandez in the 8th to make it a tie game, and in the 9th is where Toronto would blow the game wide open. Lead off hits by Danny Jansen and Marcus Semien put the Jays in a good spot, and Bo Bichette would make it count when he double them both in, giving Toronto a 6-4 lead. Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr would each add an RBI before the inning was over. Jordan Romano would come in to close out the game in the bottom of the 9th, and struck out the side, earning the Jays their second sweep over the Braves in 2 weeks.
Jays Series Standout:
Teoscar Hernandez is my standout in this series as he had a monster game Wednesday night, but also had the go ahead RBI in 2 of the 3 wins.
The inter-league action keeps coming for Toronto, as their next series is against the Philadelphia Phillies before they welcome the A.L East leading Boston Red Sox for a huge 3 game set.
You can catch every inning of Toronto Blue Jays baseball on Rogers Sportsnet, and check in here weekly at Hot Sauce Sports for the breakdown.
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