Blue Jays drop a strikeout festival to Houston in 14 innings

The Toronto Blue Jays dropped a 14-inning game filled with strikeouts on Tuesday night in Houston, losing 2-1 despite a great start from Marcus Stroman. The Jays set a franchise record of the wrong variety, striking out 22 times.

After burning through much of their bullpen, the Jays were forced to turn the ball over to Scott Feldman who had thrown 38 pitches last night as a member of the Astros. Carlos Correa quickly brought around Jose Altuve with a  game-winning double.

Stroman looked as good as he ever has for the Blue Jays, striking out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings. The young right-hander allowed just three hits and one earned run.

Altuve finally cracked Stroman with two outs in the bottom of the sixth as a breaking ball caught just a bit too much of the plate. Altuve sent a solo home run, his 19th of the season, over the left-field wall.

Toronto’s bats were held completely silent until the ninth, when Russell Martin turned on a Ken Giles pitch and launched it an estimated 444 feet.

Doug Fister was excellent in a start he almost didn’t make as he and his wife are expecting their first child. The right-hander struck out eight over his six innings of work, limiting Toronto to just four hits and a single walk.

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Bo Schultz pitched the eighth inning for Toronto without allowing a baserunner thanks to some slick defence from Travis. Joaquin Benoit handled the ninth, forcing extra innings with a deep fly ball out off the bat of Colby Rasmus.

Joe Biagini pitched a clean bottom of the 10th, snagging a come-back liner to end the inning, and stranded Carlos Correa at first in a scoreless 11th. Brett Cecil kept it rolling in the ninth, looking much stronger with a sharp curveball. Roberto Osuna took the 13th, allowing runners to reach second and third but striking out Alex Bregman.

Following Franklin Morales being designated for assignment on Sunday, Schultz was recalled from triple-A Buffalo prior to this game.

Troy Tulowitzki, who suffered a chip fracture on the knuckle of his right thumb after being hit by a Chris Tillman pitch on Sunday, took ground balls before the game and it appears that he will avoid the disabled list. With Ezequiel Carrera landing on the 15-day DL (achilles), Ryan Goins was promoted in his place to provide infield depth.

In other bullpen changes, Scott Feldman took over Jesse Chavez‘s spot as the two were involved in separate minor trades on Monday afternoon. Chavez was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deal for Mike Bolsinger, who has been assigned to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

Toronto then added starting pitcher Francisco Liriano from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Drew Hutchison. The Blue Jays also received top prospects Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez in the deal, both of whom will report to double-A New Hampshire.