Tough loss. They got atypically mostly good pitching, but the offence couldn’t do much and the defence made some key mistakes.
On the positive side, Yariel Rodriguez looked good, and Spencer Horwitz remains smoking hot.
Chris Sale was a little wild at times but overall dominant. He hit a couple of batters (George Springer to lead off the game and Leo Jimenez in the fourth), gave up a line single to Springer in the third, and walked Joey Loperfido in the fifth, but none advanced even as far as second base, let alone scoring. Alejandro Kirk’s double with two outs in the sixth inning was the first time a Blue Jay reached scoring position. That runner was stranded on a fly out. The bouts of wildness cost sale some pitches, so he had to exit after six when his pitch count reached 113, but four base runners (only one on a base hit) while striking out seven is hard to argue with.
Yariel Rodriguez actually did a credible job of dueling with him. He gave up a solo home run to Jarred Kelenic with two out in the second, but that was all the scoring he permitted. He was pulled after five innings and 73 pitches, about where he’s been removed from most of his successful starts this year, having allowed the one run on two hits and a walk while striking out six.
Tommy Nance pitched an inning of scoreless relief in the sixth, working around a ground ball single.
The offence had marginally better luck against reliever Dylan Lee, getting two of four batters on on the strength of singles by Luis De Los Santos and Loperfido, but the other two struck out and Pierce Johnson was able to come in and snuff out the potential rally with a Springer fly out.
Things finally got moving for the offence in the eighth. After Brendon Little sat Atlanta down in order in the bottom of the 7th, Ernie Clement lead off with a line double off new reliever Joe Jimenez. Vladimir Guerrero jr. followed with a sharp line out that advanced clement to third. Alejandro Kirk struck out, and John Schneider called on last night’s hero, Spencer Horwitz, to hit for Leo Jimenez. It worked, as Horwitz was able to keep last night’s magic going by chipping a low slider down the right field line and out to put Toronto in front 2-1.
Erik Swanson came on to try to preserve the narrow lead in the eighth. He got some questionable support in that pursuit from Horwitz, now playing second, who fielded a Gio Urshela ground ball and sailed the throw unto the dugout to put a man on second with nobody out. A ground out advanced the tying run to third with just one out. Brian Snitker made a move of his own, calling Travis d’Arnaud to hit for Luke Williams. His call proved less inspired than Schneider’s though, as d’Arnaud struck out swinging. Schneider, never one to let what’s working get in the way of making a move, pulled Swanson for Genesis Cabrera to face lefty Michael Harris II. That almost backfired immediately, as Cabrera spiked a fastball into the dirt, but Brian Serven was able to get a hold of it before Urshela could score. Cabrera got a chopper to first and narrowly beat Harris to the bag for the third out.
Jesse Chavez gave up a double to Springer in the top of the ninth, but that was all, setting up a one run save opportunity for Chad Green. It wasn’t to be. Eli White and Marcell Ozuna singled to put men on first and third with nobody out. Matt Olson tied it with a sac fly. Green escaped from there with a double play to send it to extras.
The teams took turns loading the bases and failing to score in the tenth. A Serven sac bunt and a Springer single scored Manfred man Addison Barger in the 11th, giving the Jays a 3-2 lead. In the bottom half, though, a bunt single and a Barger throwing error allowed Atlanta’s extra runner to tie the game and leave men on second and third. Zach Pop intentionally walked Matt Olson to get to Sean Murphy. He was able to get a weak grounder, but Eli White beat Horwitz’s throw home to win the game 4-3.
Jays of the Day: Rodriguez (0.135), Cabrera (0.114), Springer (0.228), Horwitz (0.618, although the key error should discount that a fair bit)
Not so much: Green (-0.291, though a chunk of that belongs to Horwitz), Pop (0-0.233), Kirk (-0.277), Lukes (-0.179), Barger (-0.199), Serven (-0.125), Varsho (-0.186)
Having finished their series in Atlanta, the Jays complete their tour of the top of the NL East by returning home to host the Mets. Paul Blackburn (5-4, 4.66) will represent the visitors. The Jays haven’t announced a starter yet, but it’s Chris Bassitt (9-13, 4.30) on turn.