Another close loss and Philadelphia sweeps the mini-series. These are the kind of games that would be maddening if the Jays’ record mattered. They’re still annoying when it doesn’t, but at least we have no expectations. Every win is just a chance for the young guys to show their stuff, every loss is just better odds of landing Ethan Holliday next summer.
On the young guys front, Bowden Francis turned in a pretty good game against a tough lineup. Obviously it would have been better if he’d remained as dominant as he was in August, but seeing him work past early trouble to still find a way to turn in a quality start also feels encouraging. Spencer Horwitz also chipped in a walk and a double, edging his overall line back up to 20% better than average.
Things got off on the wrong foot immediately, as Kyle Schwarber launched Bowden Francis’s second pitch of the afternoon 416 feet to right field.
The Jays did briefly claim the lead in the bottom half, with back-to-back-to-back doubles by Daulton Varsho, Vladimir Guerrero jr. (his 40th of the season) and Alejandro Kirk put them in front 2-1. That didn’t last, though. Brandon Marsh lead the top of the second off with a line single, and Kody Clemens homered to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Francis actually settled down from there and ultimately turned in a solid performance. He scattered three more hits over 4.2 innings for a final line of 3 earned runs in 6.0 innings on 6 hits, hitting one batter and striking out 6. Not the dominant form we’ve seen of late, but quality work none the less.
The offense could accomplish nothing else against Christopher Sanchez. They scattered two more doubles and a single across the second through seventh innings. Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez treated them no better, with the former recording a 1-2-3 eighth inning and the latter working around a walk to Spencer Horwitz in a scoreless ninth.
On the Jays’ side, Brendon Little hit a batter in relief in the 7th but escaped with a double play. He returned to walk Schwarber to lead off the eighth, meaning Schwarber managed seven hits, including three home runs and a double, with a walk in the two game series. He raised his OPS 40 points, which is quite a thing in two games this late in the year. I really won’t be sorry not to see him again this season. Anyway, Tommy Nance took over and issued a walk of his own before escaping the jam with a ground out, a line out, and a strike out. Ryan Burr conceded the insurance run off the bat of J.T. Realmuto leading off the eighth, and also allowed a double to Brandon Marsh.
Jays of the Day: nobody
Not So Much: Springer (-0.169), Clement (-0.104), and Jimenez (-0.111)
It’s an off day tomorrow. The Jays next play on Friday evening in Atlanta. First pitch is scheduled for 5:20pm ET. Starters haven’t been announced, but Kevin Gausman would be on turn