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Blue Jays Game Recap: Comeback Drama vs Mariners

By Shaun Doyle

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This contest started out rather slowly. It was made even more painful by the continued struggles of Drew Hutchison on the road. But, when all looked lost, the bullpen came in and saved the day with some help from an unlikely source. The Blue Jays turned this game around to be a rather exciting one. The Safeco Field crowd, made mostly of Blue Jays fans was loud! Real loud. It had the atmosphere of playoff baseball.

6. 62. 8. 39. Final

Hutchison got off to a very rough start. 7 pitches in and the bases were loaded for Robinson Cano. He appeared to be struggling through his delivery. Whether that is left over from his “stomach bug” or not remains to be seen. But, it was a real struggle. The broadcast called him “weak” due to his illness and they worried about his high pitch count in the first. Honestly, the later innings weren’t on my mind. I was worried if he’d be able to get through the first few. Mercifully, the inning came to an end with just one run surrendered, which might say more about the Mariners’ offense than anything else.

Game Notes:

  • In the 2nd inning, J.A. Happ could not get in sync with his catcher, Jesus Sucre, or the strike zone. In an inning that took about a year to complete, he walked 4 batters, hitting another and gave up a weak single to LF that brought in the Blue Jays’ first run. Devon Travis showed his great approach at the plate and walked in the second run. Josh Donaldson walked in another to make it 3-1 Blue Jays. Happ was lifted before the 2nd inning ended. The following tweet from MLB.com Gregor Chisholm about sums it up:
  • Venezuelan rookie, Jesus Sucre hit his first MLB HR off Hutchison to bring the score to 3-2 in the 2nd inning. It was kind of special to see him round the bases smiling and pointing as he crossed the plate. There was no calm, veteran demeanor. It was like watching a kid. Refreshing.
  • Hutch returned for another lengthy inning in the 3rd. It took 52 total pitches for him to get to the end of the 3rd. Not a good sign of effectiveness, to say the least. Of course, a rare Devon Travis error didn’t help things either. 3-3 at that point.
  • With a tie game in the 4th, Robinson Cano hit an opposite field 3-run HR bringing in Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz to bring the score to 6-3. That signaled the end of the day for Hutchison. His line: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR. If this start doesn’t highlight the need for pitching at the Trade Deadline, nothing will.
Liam Hendriks

entered the game after Hutchison was pulled and settled things down nicely. In the 5th and 6th, he set the Mariners down in order.

Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays /

Toronto Blue Jays

  • With 2 out in the 6th, Devon Travis ripped a double down the LF line and advanced to third on a throwing error. Jose Reyes followed by roping a double of his own to RCF, which brought the score to 6-4.
  • In the 8th inning, Ezequiel Carrera of all people, came on to pinch hit for Danny Valencia. After Fernando Rodney continued his season long struggles by walking Russell Martin, Carerra surprised everyone by blasting a home run to right field to tie the game at 6! It is his first career pinch hit HR.
  • Aaron Sanchez made his return to the Blue Jays out of the bullpen in the 8th. He came out firing! He was hitting 98, 99 with the fastball. Umpire, Jim Joyce was not having any of the movement though. Sanchez was not getting many favorable calls throughout his 8th inning effort.
  • The Mariners brought their closer, Carson Smith on in the 9th with the score tied. He promptly issued the 8th walk of the game to Josh Donaldson. Jose Bautista made them pay for that with an opposite field double to right field. This prompted the good old fashioned intentional walk to Edwin Encarnacion. Chris Colabello drove a single up the middle that gave the Blue Jays the lead 8-6 and put Aaron Sanchez in line for the win.
  • Roberto Osuna came in to face Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano. He surrendered a walk to Cano and that was all to pick up his 5th save.

    • Grades:

    . Drew Hutchison. STARTING PITCHER . D. It was a brutal start on the road…again…for Hutch. It got several people calling for him to be sent down to work things out. That might be fair. But, we also need to recognize that feeling after having a “stomach bug” and how little energy you have. But, with a playoff race going on, can the club afford to be that understanding? This performance has made the need for starting pitching that much more obvious.

    B. When John Gibbons went to the bench and pinch hit to hit, some questioned it. What was he thinking sending him in there? It’s not like he’s <strong><a href=. Game Ball. Ezequiel Carrera. OFFENSE

    A+. After Hutchison striggled, this game seemed rather hopeless. But, Hendriks came in and would have none of that. He shut the door rather loudly and started a series of bullpen performances that led to the Blue Jays being able to come back and win this one.. Game Ball. Liam Hendriks. BULLPEN

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