Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
The Toronto Blue Jays have picked up on being a Buffalo sports team quickly.
Just like every other Buffalo sports memory, they pull your heart strings to believe a win is possible but at the last minute pull the floor out right from under you.
After seven Blue Jays (6-9) home runs helped erase an early eight run deficit, the Marlins (8-4) snapped a tie on a Magneuris Sierra two-run single in the 10th inning, as they held on for a bizarre 14-11 victory Wednesday night at Sahlen field in Buffalo, NY.
Heading into the top of the 10th tied at 11, the Blue Jays were their own worst enemy. With a runner on second base, the Marlins Jon Berti dropped down a bunt. The ball fell between third baseman Brandon Drury and relief pitcher Rafael Dolis. With runners on first and third, Dolis attempted a pickoff move and threw it wide of first base.
Sierra lofted a game winning hit to right-center field for two RBIs and Jesus Aguilar added an RBI single. That is all the Marlins would need to hold off the Blue Jays.
He said What?:
“We didn’t make the plays and those guys have been playing good. They took advantage and we didn’t make the plays or the big pitches after the errors. We paid the price.”
– Blue Jays Manager Charlie Montoyo on the Miami Marlins
Players of the Game:
SS- Bo Bichette-
Bichette was mashing the ball all around the park last night. He finished the game 5 for 5 with one home run and 1 RBI and four singles, reached base six times and stole 2 bases. Bichette is the youngest shortstop with a 5-hit game that included a home run since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1982. He’s also the only shortstop in modern era baseball to reach base six times, homer and steal two bases in the same game. Bichette now has a .352 average, four home runs and 10 RBIs on the season.
3B Travis Shaw- After a slow start to his 2020 MLB campaign, Shaw is heating up at the plate. In Tuesday nights game, Shaw hit a walk off RBI single to send the Blue Jays to a 5-4 victory. He followed that up last night with a multi-home run game. His first home run of the game in the fifth inning was the 100th home run of his career.
Magic Number:
6: Toronto had seven total home runs hit by six different players and set a franchise record of six home runs in six consecutive innings.
Teoscar Hernandez, Travis Shaw (2), Rowdy Tellez, Danny Jansen and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all added to the teams home run derby.
The Ugly:
SP- Nate Pearson- Blue Jays fans knew there would be some growing pains this season with 2017 first round pick Nate Pearson. But I think Pearson’s recent outing is one that we would all like to forget.
Pearson retired the first two batters he faced to start the game, but then completely lost command. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks across 2.1 innings against the Marlins last night and only found the strike zone 33 out of 65 pitches.
It was a rough outing for Pearson, who had a 2.70 ERA and 10 strikeouts and five walks over 10 innings coming into Wednesday night’s start.
This isn’t something we should be concerned about yet. He has a bright future and we have to remember that despite his outstanding 100 MPH fast, he is still a rookie with a lot of room to grow.
1B/DH- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- Before the Blue Jays took the field for the shortened season, they decided to move Guerrero Jr. from third base to first base/ designated hitter. The idea was to improve the infield and to allow Guerrero Jr. to further develop his powerful swing.
So far this season, he is off to a slow start offensively, and defensively, he is trying to figure out the lay of the land. Last night, Guerrero Jr. went 2 for 5 at the plate with 1 RBI and 1 run, but two costly errors in the top of third and fifth innings added more salt to the wound for the Blue Jays’ defensive woes.
I’m not down on Guerrero Jr. He’s a complete hitter, he has colossal power, great bat control and has great plate discipline. But I think it is going to take time for him to adjust to his new role before we start seeing those baseball’s fly out of the park on a consistent basis again.
Next Up:The Blue Jays will host the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field for a three-game series starting on Friday night. The last time the Blue Jays and Rays met was on opening day at Tropicana field. The Rays took the series 2-1. On the mound for Toronto will be Tanner Roark. In two starts this season, Roark is 1-1 and has given up five hits and five earned runs. First pitch is set for 6:37PM
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