Game Recap: Blue Jays Relievers Issue Twins Free Pass

Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Blue Jays lose 9-5 to the Minnesota Twins, as the Twins win both ends of today’s double header to take the series win.

Ernie Harwell once said, “Baseball is a lot like life. It’s a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life.”

Well Blue Jay fans today was filled with a lot more downs than ups losing 9-5 to Twins who spanked the Jays 7-0 in the afternoon game. The Blue Jays looked to be in complete control of game 2 going into the 8^th inning with Steve Delabar on the mound and Segio Santos warming up in the bullpen. Toronto’s bullpen, considered by many it’s greatest strength, was not able to make the most of their opportunities on this night, but the Minnisota Twins hitters sure did.

The Toronto Blue Jays gave the Minnisota Twins a free pass today. Toronto pitching allowed 5 walks in Game 1 and an additional 12 walks in Game 2. It doesn’t take a statistican to calcuate the probabity of winning a game if you allow the opposing team to repeatedly get on base by issuing 12 base-on-balls.

Top of the 1^st   2-0

Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista started the game by drew a pair of walking of Twins pitcher Mike Pelfrey. Edwin Encarnacion would score Melky Cabrera with a single to left field. Jose would core on Dioner Navarro’s sacrifice fly.

Botton of the 1^st, 2-1

Dustin McGowan pitched 4 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 ER, 4 BB, and striking out 3 batters. Dusting would throw 49 of his 85 pitches for strikes, as he seemed to have trouble gribbing the ball all night. Brian Dozier was able to get to McGowan early, hitting a home run in the Twins first AB of the game.

Top of the 5^th, 5-1

Jose Bautista would hit his 6^th home run into left field in the 5^th. Brett Lawire would signle to score Edwin Encarnacion from third, who had drawn his second walk of the night. Dioner Navarro would later score on a Ryan Goins infield hit which would be ruled an error.

Bottom of the 5^th, 5-3

McGowan would allow 3 singles and 3 walks over the three innings, not permitting the score. McGowan would take the mound in the 5^th inning but was lifted for Aaron Loup after allowing Dozier to single, walking Joe Mauer, a 2 run double to Chris Colabello.

Bottom of the 8^th, the beginning of the end, 5-9

Steve Delabar was not himself tonight. Delabar throw 15 pitches, 7 for strikes. He would allow 2 runs but didn’t give up any hits. These runs were charged  to Sergio Santos , who was equally inepte at getting twins batters out as Steve Delabar was. Santos generated two wild pitches as Doinner Novarro did his best J.P. Arencibia impersonation.  Santos would get pulled without registering an out. Santos gave up 3 ER, zero  hits,and three free pass.  J.A. Happ would take over for Sergio Santos and proceded to issue an additional three walks and would be charged with only one earned runs.

Positive Note

Aaron Loup, Neil Wagner, and Brett Cecil held the Twins to 1 hit, zero runs,  zero walks and 2 K’s in three inning of relieve today.

Anthony Gose displayed good plate discapline today, drawing 3 BB. In 2013, Anthony Gose drew 5 walks in 52 games.

Hightlights

Encarnacion’s grab

Dozier’s robs Goins