Nationals 2 Blue Jays 4
A sweep. We didn’t have our first sweep until May 27-29 last year, so let’s enjoy this.
We scored in the first. With two out, Anthony Santander doubled, and Andrés Giménez singled him home.
The second run came in the fourth inning. George Springer led off with a home run.
Our third run came in the fifth. Vlad doubled off the right field wall (very close play at second, I thought he ran into an out. Santander reached on an infield single. Springer walked. And Clement hit a fly to the wall in right for a sac fly. After that, Davis Schneider was hit by a pitch. But Tyler Heineman popped out to end the inning.
The fourth run came in the sixth. Myles Straw led off with a double (he had a great day). He moved to third on Bo’s groundout. Then Vlad ground one to short. They came home, but the throw was high (if it were on target, Straw would have still been safe. They ruled the throw home an error, costing Vlad an RBI). Vlad went to second when the throw home was a bit high. Giménez ground out to end the inning.
We had a shot at getting more runs in the second. Ernie Clement walked to lead things off. After Davis Schneider popped out to center, Tyler Heineman reached on a bunt single (nice; I’m not used to catchers beating out bunts).
Then Myles Straw hit a fly to deep center. Dylan Crews had the ball go off his glove, but the runners had to hold up to see if it was caught. With the third base coach holding up the stop sign, Clement decided to go home (the replay showed that he didn’t look the third base coach. The call at the plate was out. Clement disagreed, and the Jays challenged, but the call was confirmed. It was close.
But with one out, there is no reason to go home unless you are sure. Bo Bichette was up next and is having a great start to the season. He hit a fly to the center, and Crews made a diving catch on it. If Clements had stayed at third, that would have been a sac fly (but, of course, we don’t know if that would have happened if he had stayed at third- a different situation would likely bring a different pitch). What could have been a big inning was wrecked by running into an out.
I’m ok with guys getting thrown out with two outs (if it is close), but not with one (or no) outs. And, if you will ignore your third base coach, you better be right.
Easton Lucas was terrific. Five innings, just one hit, two walks with three strikeouts. He went 74 pitches and looked smooth and easy. I’m sure he’s bought himself another start. I thought we would see a bunch of runs against him, but Lucas had a great game. I was all for leaving him out for another inning, but they said he would be limited to 75ish pitches.
Brendon Little gave up a leadoff home run in the sixth but got three straight outs. He got the first out of the seventh.
Chad Green got the last two outs of the seventh.
I thought Green would get the eighth, but Yimi Garcia came out for it. I guess, with the save possibility, they wanted to go with the A-team, with tomorrow being an off-day.
Jeff Hoffman got the first two outs of the ninth but then gave up three straight hits, one a swinging bunt down the third base line. But Heineman threw out Jacob Young trying to steal second—a fantastic throw. I’d be pissed off if I was a Mets’ Nationals’ fan, a caught stealing to end the game is a terrible way to lose.
Our defense was terrific today. Giménez made (at least) three excellent plays at second). Bo made a very nice pickup, spin and throw in the eighth. And Clement had a very good game at third.
We had ten hits today. Maybe we should have had more runs, but it was a good day for the bats. Straw had three hits, two doubles. Satander and Heineman had two. Springer homered and walked. Vlad doubled and reached on the fielder’s choice in the sixth. Giménez got another RBI on a single.
Bo, Clement (with a walk and an RBI), and Schneider had 0 fors. Schneider is 0 for the season (only seven at-bats).
Jays of the Day: Lucas (.274) and Springer (.105). Honourable mention to Gimenez for his RBI and terrific defense. And let’s give an honourable mention to Tyler Heineman for the catch stealing to end the game (with a great tag by Giménez).
Other Award: Bichette had the number at -.111 for his 0 for 5, but he made some nice plays in the field, so I’ll not honor him this time.
Tomorrow is an off-day.
Friday, the Jays are in New York for the Mets’ opening day. Kevin Gausman starts for the good guys. Tylor Megill for the Mets.
The Jays are 5-2. Last year it was game 11 when we won our fifth game.