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Beating any team is nice, but when you beat a specific pitcher for the second time in a row (separated, of course, by an offseason of drama), it’s exhilarating. The Blue Jays, against starter Ubaldo Jimenez and the Baltimore Orioles, got in front early and stayed in the lead with strong pitching in today’s 5-2 win.
Aaron Sanchez started the game for the Blue Jays. In two appearances before today, including one start, Sanchez had allowed a total of five runs over four innings, including two home runs. Today, Sanchez rebounded and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one hit and one earned run, all coming off of a home run. A more concerning trait about today’s start was the four walks that Sanchez allowed, compared to two strikeouts. Overall, he threw 52 pitches, 29 of which were strikes.
Pitching after Sanchez remained strong. Jeff Beliveau gave up an unearned run, but the following three pitchers (Dominic Leone, Chad Girodo and Lucas Harrell) kept the Orioles off the board.
The Blue Jays, looking to make things easy for anyone watching the game, struck for four runs in the fourth inning on four hits, all coming off of Ubaldo Jimenez. In the bottom half of the inning, Chris Davis hit a solo home run, and Jeff Beliveau eventually finished the frame allowing another run (unearned) - after a single, double and passed ball.
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The game remained 4-2 until the top of the eighth, when Jake Elmore hit a sacrifice fly to drive Jason Leblebijian home. The final score of the game was 5-2 Blue Jays.
All runs from today’s game came from the first and ninth spot, occupied by Kevin Pillar, Jon Berti and Jake Elmore. Pillar, leading off and playing center field, collected two hits, including two RBIs, in three at bats. Jon Berti, who started the game at third base, posted a similar line, also collecting two hits and two RBIs in, you guessed it, three at bats.
7,601 fans attended today’s game at Ed Smith Stadium. The game took two hours, 46 minutes to complete and was played in sunny weather (23 ℃, to be exact).