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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays muster just two hits, lose 5-0 to the basement dwelling White Sox

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One step forward, 18 million steps backward with the 2024 Toronto Blue Jays.

On Tuesday evening, the Blue Jays hosted the league’s worst Chicago White Sox, falling 5-0 to the team generating just two hits. Yikes.

In the top of the second, Nicky Lopez hit a single which scored Korey Lee, giving the White Sox the only run that they’d need to knock off the 21-26 Blue Jays.

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Later in the top of the fifth, Corey Julks singled that scored Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jiménez, with the latter pulling up and later leaving the game with an apparent leg injury. These were the only two earned runs starter Yusei Kikuchi would give up.

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In the bottom of the fifth, Justin Turner’s double broke up the perfect game bid (yes, they went 4.1 innings without a base runner) as well as breaking up a 0-29 streak where he didn’t even reach base. Basically the only positive to take away from this game.

Blue Jays killer Paul DeJong led off the top of the eighth with a single, only the ninth hit Trevor Richards has given up all season. John Schneider brought in Tim Mayza to face Dominic Fletcher, who walked, allowing Danny Mendick to hit a two-run double giving the White Sox a 5-0 lead. More on this in things worth mentioning.

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When will this team go on “the run” that the organization’s figure heads keep talking about? It’s becoming fairly late in the season, and their 21-26 record has them 11 games out of the American League East lead and 3.5 games back of the Wild Card position.

Things worth mentioning…

Trevor Richards gave up his ninth hit of the season to Paul DeJong, but struck out the next two batters in dominant fashion. The White Sox manager brought in left-handed batter Dominic Fletcher who has a .203 batting average and a 65 wRC+, with John Schneider biting on the move to bring in Tim Mayza, a walk and a double later, and this game was out of reach. Aside from Yimi García, Richards has been the most consistent reliever out of the pen, and lefties are hitting .138 against him. This is just over managing to a tee.

Yusei Kikuchi had a nice game, finishing with a line of 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER (3 R), 3 BB, 6 K bringing his season ERA to 2.64 (a slight increase from his 2.60 ERA coming into this game). He’s been incredibly consistent all season.

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Justin Turner’s 0-29 streak was his longest hitless streak in his career, but it’s nice to see him get off the schneid with that double. The only other hit came from Ernie Clement, who poked the ball the opposite way, while Danny Jansen worked a walk immediately after. Of course, nothing happened after.

Up next: The Blue Jays have a chance to win the series on Wednesday, as they’ll host the White Sox for the rubber match at 7:07 PM ET. Chris Bassitt will be on the mound, and if they win (big if, I know), it’ll be their first series win since April 19-21’s series against the San Diego Padres.

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.