OOTP Season Sim Game 3: Jays take their first loss

Well, it had to end sometime.

Before the game the Jays announced signing Sam Dyson to a minor league deal. Sam had a good 2019 season, with a 3.32 ERA and 2 saves in 61 games. As far as I can tell he is still a free agent in the real world.

Red Sox 6 Blue Jays 5

We had a late game comeback in the first game of the season, today we let the Red Sox have the comeback win.

Going into the ninth, up 4-3 and Ken Giles on the mound it looked like the Jays would going to start the season 3-0, but Giles gave up a leadoff home run to our old friend Kevin Pillar. Giles got the next two out but then gave up a single to Jose Peraza, who then stole second. J.D. Martinez singled, driving home Peraza, putting the Red Sox up by one, Martinez went to second on the throw home. Rafael Devers doubled home Martinez, putting the Red Sox up by two. Giles came out and Rafael Dolis finished out the game.

Travis Shaw led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run, making it a one-run game, but that’s where the fun ended. Lourdes Gurriel and Derek Fisher struck out and Danny Jansen hit a hard ground ball but right at the second baseman.

Up until the ninth the game was going well. Matt Shoemaker went 6 innings allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk with 6 strikeouts. Shoemaker gave up a leadoff single to Pillar to start the 7th and he was out of the game.

Brian Moran came in and got Mitch Moreland to fly out, struck out Christian Vazquez but gave up a single to Peraza (his third batter of the inning so he could come out here) sending Pillar to third.

Anthony Bass is called in and throws a wild pitch allowing Pillar to score, making the game 4-3 Toronto. Bass pitched a nice quick 8th, with two strikeouts.

On the offensive side, we had 11 hits and 7 (!) walks, but only 5 runs. Every Jay in the starting lineup had a hit. Hernandez and Fisher had 2 hits each. Fisher and Shaw each homered, both solo shots. Vlad went 1 for 3 with 2 walks.

We scored:

1 in the second: Fisher solo homer.

1 in the fourth: Lourdes doubled and singles from Fisher and Jansen moved him to third and home.

1 in the fifth: Teoscar was out bunting for a base hit. Vlad doubled and Randal Grichuk was intentionally walked. Gurriel walked to load the bases and Fisher walked to bring in a run.

1 in the sixth: Teoscar doubled (Teoscar stop trying to bunt for a base hit) with two outs. Vlad was intentionally walked. Grichuk singled home Teoscar.

And, as mentioned, Shaw’s solo homer in the ninth.

Let’s give a JOD to Fisher (2 for 4, home run, 2 RBI).

And Suckage goes to Giles for his blown save. He now has a win, a loss and a blown save.

Of note: The Red Sox used the ‘opener’. Darwinzon Hernandez (sounds like an OOTP made up name) gave up 3 walks, getting two outs to open the game. Martin Perez (the bulk guy) went 5.1 giving up 4 earned on 8 hits and 4 walks. Sequencing....

Attendance was 29747 in game three. Tomorrow we have the final game of the four game set with the Red Sox. Shun Yamaguchi gets the start for the Jays. Ryan Weber gets the start for the Sox

Jays are 2-1, in first place in the East. Orioles, Rays and Yankees are all 1-1, half a game back.

Pitching: