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Instant Reaction: Ryan Mountcastle single-handedly outscored the Blue Jays in their 10-1 defeat

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Ross Atkins, if you’re reading this, it’s time to decide to sell.

On Tuesday evening, the Blue Jays hosted the Orioles for the second of four games, falling 10-1 to the Good Bird Team of the American League East, falling to 28-32 on the season. Forget trying to win the division, the Jays may not even get into a Wild Card game now!

The Orioles scored on an Adley Rutschman single in the top of the third, and then scored some more when Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run blast because this dude hates Canada for whatever reason. After the top of the third, it was 4-0.

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Skip to the fifth inning, and nearly the exact same scenario happens. Adley Rutschman hit a single to score a run, professional Canadian hater Ryan Mountcastle hit a home run to score even more runs. The only difference is that it was a two-run shot instead of a three-run blast. Very nice of him.

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The blowout got even worse in the top of the seventh, as Anthony Santander doubled in Gunnar Henderson to make it an 8-0 game. The only good news about this is that Mountcastle grounded into a double play the batter before, saving the Jays from allowing more than one run.

George Springer hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead in one-eighth, but then Connor Norby hit a two-run home run in the next half inning. That was his first career hit and home run in the big leagues, imagine allowing prospects to play in big league games.

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Things worth mentioning…

What do you even say at this point? The Blue Jays are not good, this team isn’t going to make the postseason, and even if they do again before Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contracts run out, are they even going to re-sign in Toronto? At this point, the decision to heavily sell has to be a topic of discussion. Something has to happen.

Trevor Richards is one such player who may be traded at the deadline. He started today’s game, because yes, the 2024 “contending” Blue Jays needed an opener, and he finished with four strikeouts over two innings of perfect baseball.

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The rest of the bullpen didn’t uphold the very brief perfect game.Génesis Cabrera, who had been so good in recent times, gave up three earned runs in a third of an inning pitched. Bowden Francis returned from the Injured List, and gave up four earned runs on two home runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Zach Pop gave up an earned run in an inning of work, while Nate Pearson gave up two in the same number of innings. Tim Mayza had a clean inning though!

George Springer continues to hit well lower in the lineup. Since May 18 when he moved to the sixth spot regularly, he came into this game slashing .261/.397/.370 with a home run (now two) in 58 plate appearances for a 130 wRC+. Add in a home run in today’s game, and it’ll only be higher.

Aside from Springer, it was a quiet day with the bats, as there were only four other hits, all singles. Davis Schneider, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Justin Turner all had a single. Sad.

Up next: The Blue Jays have to win the next two games to salvage the series, as they are down 2-0. José Berríos will get the ball at 7:07 PM ET and will be up against 34-year-old Albert Suárez, who has a 1.57 ERA in 34.1 innings pitched this season.

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