Thank the Lourdes! Big(gio) offensive breakout drives 12-3 Jays win

Blue Jays 12 Orioles 3

The Blue Jays won a series? The Blue Jays won a series! Even if it was the OriLOLes, and even if it was completely overshadowed by some other minor occurrence in the Toronto sports universe (that managed to even hook in you humble recapper, hence the late hour of this post).

The bats had an excellent night, piling up 12 runs on 17 hits. Cavan Biggio staked the Jays to an early lead with a solo home run in the 2nd. Unlike some nights, rather than the end, it was just the beginning. They added another in the 3rd on a trio of singles from Danny Jansen, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

After the Orioles scratched back to tie it, they really went off in the 6th. Gurriel started the fireworks with a lead off home run to put the Jays back up. After Justin Smoak grounded out, the next eight batters reached until Gurriel came back up and struck out: double, walk, walk to load the bases, double to score two, single to score two more, single, single to score one. Smoak then drove in a 9th run for good measure.

That would have been enough, but the Jays tacked on three more in the 7th. Biggio launched another solo home run, and then the Jays loaded the bases and plated their last two runs via a Vlad sac fly and Gurriel infield single on a ground ball that Rio Ruiz fielded but appeared to injure himself.

Marcus Stroman pitched a solid six innings, allowing a pair of runs on a pair of RBI singles from Anthony Santander in the 3rd and 5th innings. The latter tied the game, at least for about 15 minutes until the Jays took the lead and put the game away in one half. Stroman responded with a perfect 6th before turning the game over the bullpen to be could watch the Raptors.

Newly summoned Justin Shafer came in and had a great first inning in the 7th, striking out the side swinging, for once showing the ability he routinely displayed in Buffalo. He was back out for the 8th, and which was rockier as after he got the first two outs (the former on decent contact), he got taken yard by Chance Sisco and then gave up a hard double. Thomas Pannone handled the 9th (I had honestly forgotten he was still around).

Jays of the Day: Gurriel (+0.188 WPA), Biggio (+0.139), Vlad (+0.112).

Blew Jays: Poor Rowdy (-0.114). Smoak wasn’t far off either (-0.084)

Tomorrow the Blue Jays travel to Biggio’s home town of Houston, where they’ll go from facing a 21 win AAAA team to a 46 win juggernaut. So yeah, that should go well. Aaron Sanchez against Gerrit Cole at 8:10 PM eastern.