“We finally got something going in the 14th, but we didn’t get the big hit”.
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Washington’s offense got to Madison Bumgarner (8-5) quickly with four consecutive hits including home runs by Michael A. Taylor and Harper. Asking for 4 innings from this exhausted bullpen is flirting with danger.
And after the Pirates tacked on an insurance run charged to Al Alburquerque but allowed on a Joba Chamberlain single to Andrew McCutchen. Tigers right-hander Joba Chamberlain gave up three solo home runs in the eighth. Jared Hughes took over and got Miguel Cabrera to ground out, ending the threat. The struck for 6 runs in the 5th inning. Kevin Pillar followed with a single.
Cabrera leads the league in average (.350), OBP (.456), OPS (1.034), wRC+ (184) and wOBA (.436). They would continue to pile it on.
Justin Verlander was the Tigers starting pitcher, and he wasnt very good.
Martinez has 23 home runs in 79 games this season. The sheer power that Smoak brings to the table is too tantalizing to leave him on the bench. But they could assess their roster, at first base and elsewhere, and maybe reconfigure for the future.
Mark Melancon came on to get the final out and his 25th save. 394 OBP at the start of the game put him in 3rd place in the American League.
This is Justin Verlander’s 4th start of the season, he was on the DL at the start of the year. “He grounded out and I just felt it grab”. “It’s just one game, but the last couple games we’ve looked a lot better at the plate”. The multihomer game was the second for Bryant, who hit a two-run drive in the first inning and chased Marlins starter Jarred Cosart with a grand slam in the second that made it 7-0. Martinez. Now, if there weren’t a cut out in the RF wall, it would have been a double. “They know to lock it down….”
LHP Ian Krol was recalled from Triple-A Toledo after Sunday’s game. It loaded the bases with no one out. In five appearances for Erie, he went 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and two saves prior to being called up by the Tigers on Friday. Travis drove in 3 runs on 2 hits and a walk. Three Padres relievers combined to allow just one hit over three innings, with Craig Kimbrel picking up his 21st save. When he entered, it was in a save situation. The Blue Jays have a 36-5 record when outhitting opponents. His outing was not sharp by any means.
Estrada didn’t have his best stuff in this one.
Gibbons and his staff certainly hope so. “My biggest hurdle was getting back on the mound again”, said Harrison, 29. Even still, the Blue Jays needed a starter to right the ship. He pitched with tightness in his lower back in the ninth, a problem he insisted would not prevent him from pitching if needed on Monday.
When you exhaust your bullpen with poor starts from the rotation, expectations have to be adjusted. Not so fresh arms don’t. That made Gibby turn to Roberto Osuna.
Rajai Davis had a bead on it. Other than a leadoff single in the 9th, he shut the door on the Tigers.
Steven Souza Jr. tied the score in the top half with a two-run drive, the first home run off Dellin Betances (5-1) since Baltimore’s Jonathan Schoop connected on August 13. But, I will anyway. Hamilton went 1 for 3 with a double and two strikeouts. Yoenis Cespedes, batting second, went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. J.D. But, Bautista continues to show leadership by putting together quality at bats and helping his team win in different ways.
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The Jays broke the game open in the fifth inning, scoring six times against the Tigers’ Cy Young Award victor to take a 7-0 lead. Many feel that he will retire at the end of this season.
