Jays waste a great start from Marcus Stroman

Tigers 2 Blue Jays 0 (10 innings)

We got treated to a pitchers’ duel for opening day. Well a pitchers’ duel until Daniel Hudson came into the game. Hudson came into the game in the 10th, gave up a leadoff double and then a 0-2 hanger that left the park off the bat of Christin Stewart. Not the first impression you want to give the fans. Or your teammates.

Marcus Stroman was terrific. He seemed to be a little overexcited early, and had a tough time keeping in or even near the strike zone. But, in all he went 7 innings, allowed 2 hits, 4 walks with 7 strikeouts. He kept the ball on the ground. Marcus had one double play turned behind him. He would have had another but Lourdes rushed the throw to first and pulled Smoak way off the bag. If this is going to be the Marcus we see this season, we will be very happy.

Unfortunately Jordan Zimmerman was at least as good for the Tigers. He went 7 innings allowing just 1 single, getting 4 strikeouts. We did hit some balls to the track, but not over the wall.

Joe Biagini was terrific in his inning of relief work, three very nice strikeouts. He worked very fast, something very good to see. Ken Giles did much the same in the 9th, getting 3 quick strikeouts.

Offensively, we did nothing. 2 singles. An infield one from Teoscar Hernandez and a line single by Brandon Drury in the 9th.

About the only other thing of note was Danny Jansen throwing out Niko Goodrum trying to steal second. A really good throw and a good tag by Freddy Galvis.

Jays of the Day: Stroman (.446 WPA), Giles (.139) and Biagini (.108).

Suckage: Daniel Hudson (-.417) and, really, the entire batting lineup. If they could have pushed across a run in any of the first 9 innings it we would have a win.

Let’s hope for better job by the bats tomorrow.

Sorry Charlie, I wish we would have got you a win in your first game. But it was great to see the huge smile he had during the pregame introductions.

It might not have been a win, but it was nice to watch baseball again.

We had 1225 comments in the GameThread. DangYouToHeck led the way. Good job sir.