Mariners 8 Blue Jays 3
All I want to talk about is how good Paxton Schult was. Coming into the game in the second inning, with the Jays already down 6-0, he threw 4.1 innings, giving up just 2 hits, no walks, with 8 strikeouts. The eight strikeouts are tied with an MLB record for a reliever pitching in his first major league game. I’d be looking at him for the start in five days. He threw 64 pitches, 50 of them strikes. I’d take that as a starter if he can go four good innings.
Unfortunately, whatever magic Easton Lucas had in his first two starts has flown out the door. We were down 3-0 before he got his first out, on two home runs and a double. He gave up three runs in the first and three more in the second. This time, without home runs. It went walk, single, strikeout, walk, strikeout, single, single and a trip to the showers.
Dillon Tate didn’t have as good a first appearance of the season. He gave up a two-run homer to Rowdy Tellez in the seventh inning. He ended up going 1.2 innings, with 2 earned.
Mason Fluhardy pitched the last 1.2 innings, without giving up a base runner.
We had a good bottom of the second. Addison Barger led off with a double. Will Wagner singled, and Tyler Heineman singled to bring home one. Nathan Lukes grounded into a force at second, but Bo singled home one and Vlad singled home another. Unfortunately, Santander struck out and Giménez flied out to left (a great catch; he ran a long way and slid into the wall in left, making the catch). It might have been a different game without that catch.
And we got one more in the third. Springer doubled, Barger walked. An out later, Heineman singled to load the bases. A Luke’s sacrifice fly scored the run. Bo followed with a ground out.
We might chip away at the lead, but no such luck.
We had a lot of chances:
- In the first, Bo singled and Vlad walked, but we didn’t score them.
- In the fourth, Vlad started the inning with a double off the center field wall, but was stranded there.
- In the fifth, Heineman doubled.
- In the seventh, Giménez was hit (well, touched) by a pitch, and Springer walked. But Myles Straw struck out, Ernie Clement ground out, and Heineman struck out.
- In the eighth, Lukes started it with a single. Bo ground out. Vlad walked. But Santander hit into a double play.
Jays of the Day: Schultz (.105 WPA), Vlad (.173, 2 for 3 with 2 walks), and Heineman (.097, 3 for 4).
Other Award: Lucas (-.392, 1.1 innings, 7 hits, 6 earned), Santander (-.204, 0 for 5, 2 k), and Giménez (-.113, 0 for 4).
Things are going to have to happen. Giménez has to move out of the cleanup spot. Santander has to start hitting. I know he is a slow starter, but it is almost May, and he has to get it going. And some of the other bats have to get going.
And the team has to decide if Lucas makes another start or if Schultz is the guy. Or maybe Jake Bloss time has come. He had 7 strikeouts in 4.2 innings today, with no walks and no earned runs.
Tomorrow the Jays are in Houston to play the Astros. Gausman (2-1, 2.49) vs. Hunter Brown (2-1, 1.50).