Well, we knew the Blue Jays weren't going to stay undefeated forever. And today the dream died as the Jays went on the road to face a split squad of Astros in Kissimmee in a matchup of the two teams knocked out of the playoffs by the Royals en route to the World Series with a lineup that stretched the bounds of the minimum number of regulars required. Unsurprisingly, they struggled to generate offensive production with only 3 hits on the day (and just 5 baserunners) but nonetheless, they kept things close until the end when the Astros pulled away.
Pitchers
- Marcus Stroman went the first 3 innings, facing just 10 batters, retiring all but Colby Rasmus who deposited a ball just over the fence leading off the second. Stroman threw about 43 pitches (29 strikes), and was quite sharp, striking 4 while inducing 4 routine ground balls and 2 fly balls. Judging by the quality of his first two outings, he doesn't seem to have missed a beat since the end of last season.
- Jesse Chavez pitched the next two innings, not nearly so cleanly, allowing one run on a massive, no doubt solo shot to Jon Singleton leading off the 5th. He also walked two while striking out just one. He did recover nicely in his second inning after the HR and BB to the next hitter, getting 3 weak ground outs. About 30 pitches, 14 strikes. He took the loss so clearly
the Hendriks trade was a mistakehe should be fired into the sun. - Switch pitcher Pat Venditte pitched the 6th and was not particularly sharp, allowing 2 walks but stranding both
- Rule 5 draftee Joe Biagini pitched a clean 7th, one strikeout and two ground balls
- Ben Rowen had a rough 8th, turning a one run game into a 5-1 deficit. He retired the leadoff batter before giving up a single, RBI double, walk, single, 2 RBI double. He ended up charged with 5 ER in 0.1 IP
- Taylor Cole came in to try and clean up the mess, but allowed both inherited runners to score on a sharp RBI single and RBI groundout before finishing with a strikeout swinging.
Hitters:
- A whole pile of 0-fers by the starters: Kevin Pillar (0/3), Ryan Goins (0/3, K), Darrell Ceciliani (0/2, HBP, K), Justin Smoak (0/2, BB), Dalton Pompey (0/2), Humberto Quintero (0/2)
- Dom Brown went 1/3 with a K and the only extra base hit of the day, a triple on a hard hit fly ball lost in the sun
- Matt Dominguez went 1/2 and drove Brown home from 3rd in the top of the 5th to briefly tie the game
- Richard Urena got the start at SS, and went 1/3, but the one hit was an infield single and he didn't make any good contact today
- A bunch of prospects/minor leage invitees came in late. The following each went 0/1: Roemon Fields, David Adams (K), Rowdy Tellez, Jio Mier, Andy Burns, Tony Sanchez (K). Matt Dean also came in late, did not come up to the plate, and may have had a mental lapse in the field allowing the 7th run to score on a ground out where there was a play at the plate according to the radio guys
Tomorrow the Jays take on Atlanta at home in Dunedin at 1:07. No TV but as usual there will be the internet broadcast.