Walk-Off Homer Danny Jansen, Jays Win

Royals 5 Blue Jays 7

Walk-off homers are fun. This time is was Danny Jansen who hit it out in the bottom of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Randal Grichuk worked a walk. Pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez stuck out. And then Danny Jansen, who earlier in the at bat hit one down the left field line, just foul, which four feet over, would have won the game. But, two pitches later, Danny hit one over the center field wall. Great timing for a home run. Danny has been looking better at the plate lately.

The big news from today’s game is that Marcus Stroman came out of the game after 2 pitches in the top of the fifth. They are telling us it is a left shoulder pectoral cramp. Let’s say a cramp in the pectoral below the left shoulder. Or a cramp in the muscles of the left shoulder, since the pectorals are below the shoulder. But, as long as it is a cramp, it is the best news we could hope to hear.

Marcus didn’t have a good start. 4 innings, 4 hits, 3 earned, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. He gave up a home run to Martin Maldonado (who earlier hit a ball into the fifth deck that was ruled foul).

Offensively, we scored all our runs on three swings of the bat.

• Vladimir Guerrero had a solo homer in the second inning.
• Cavan Biggio hit a grand slam in fifth inning.
• And Jansen in the ninth.

We only had 6 hits. Eric Sogard had two of them. Of course, he was also picked off second base in the first inning. That’s something that really shouldn’t happen. Vlad, Lourdes Gurriel, Biggio and Jansen had a hit each.

Our pen gave up a couple of runs:

• Sam Gaviglio came in for Marcus. He gave up a run off a walk and a double in the inning and started the sixth, getting a ground out before giving up a single and hitting a batter.
• Tim Mayza came in and got 2 strikeouts to get out of the jam. I thought Mayza could have, at least, started the seventh with lefties Nicky Lopez and Alex Gordon starting the inning but...
• In came David Phelps, who had a nice 3 up 3 down inning.
• Derek Law pitched the 8, getting a couple of strikeouts (being helped out by a very large strike zone.

Ken Giles didn’t come into the game with a 1-run lead in the 9th. His arm must not be right.

Daniel Hudson got the ninth. He started the inning with a single and a walk. A sac bunt moved up the runners (I though Hudson should have gone to third, I’m sure he had a play there) and a sac fly tied the game.

Jays of the Day: Biggio (.410 WPA), Jansen (.277, I thought it would be higher), Mayza (.143), Law (.122) and Phelps (.096).

Suckage: Hudson (-.197), Stroman (-.139) and Gaviglio (-.121).

We had 595 comments in the GameThread. We got off on political tangents a couple of times. My fault. I hate political ads before an election is called. I don’t care who does it, but when it is on several times a game I get grumpy about it. I’m going to start watching on MLB.TV. I equally hate the Captain Morgan commercial.

DangYouToHeck led us to an exciting victory.