Blue Jays Outshine Gray For Well Deserved Win

Final Score - Blue Jays: 6 Evil Empire: 2

Sam Gaviglio looked like his typical team ace self for the first four innings, giving up only a solo home run to Aaron Hicks, but got into trouble in the 5th (more on that later). He was helped out by four very nice defensive plays - two from Kevin Pillar and two from Devon Travis. He ended up going 4.1 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits (1 homer), with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts.

There were baserunners for both teams in the first inning, in hindsight perhaps an omen that neither would last five innings. Sam Gaviglio stranded a single and a walk by getting two strikeouts, and Sonny Gray struck out Russell Martin to leave the bases loaded after issuing two-out walks to Yangervis Solarte and Justin Smoak. He also gave up a single to Kevin Pillar which Aaron Judge bobbled, but Windmill Rivera held up Solarte at 3rd because of how shallow Judge was playing, and the Jays couldn’t score.

The Jays had a very good second inning, which ended up being Gray’s last of the night. I cheered so loud I think I scared my mom’s neighbours who had stopped by for a visit. Randal Grichuk led off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on a Devon Travis single. Travis then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored the Jays’ second run on a long single by Curtis Granderson. Yangervis Solarte sent a single straight up the middle of his own, and then Justin Smoak drove them all home with a hefty homer 404 feet to right field.

David Hale came in to take over for Gray, and he saved the Yankees’ bullpen by pitching five scoreless innings of relief. He eventually gave up a run in the bottom of 8th, on doubles to Aledmys Diaz and Teoscar Hernandez. Chasen Shreve got the final out.

As previously mentioned, Gaviglio flew through the first four innings but only recorded one out in the 5th. He gave up singles to Austin Romine and Brett Gardner, then Judge reached on an error after Solarte bobbled the ball. Gaviglio walked Aaron Hicks with the bases loaded for an unearned run, pushing his pitch count over 100 and ending his evening. Joe Biagini came in and fell to a 3-0 count on Stanton, but ended up striking him out on two pitches outside of the zone, and one perfectly placed on the outside edge. Didi Gregorious flew out to end the threat. Biagini also pitched a clean 6th. He was truly terrific (and arguably could be credited with the save if they were awarded based on merit). He did end up with the win.

Aaron Loup was handed the 7th. Neil Walker worked a 13 pitch walk but Brett Gardner struck out. Seungwhan Oh came in and got the last two outs.

John Axford pitched in the 8th and pitched around a single and a walk. Tyler Clippard came in and pitched a clean inning.

Jays of the Day: Joe Biagini (+.213 WPA) and Justin Smoak (.182). Let’s give one to both Kevin Pillar and Devon Travis who each made two solid defensive plays. The Jays’ bullpen deserves one too, for 5.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Suckage: Russell Martin has the low mark (-.097). His slugging percentage has also dipped below his OBP.

We had 363 comments in the GameThread. DangYouToHeck, like the Jays, emerges victorious.

Tomorrow the Jays will look to JA Happ to take the series against Luis Severino at 4:07pm EDT.