Quick Recap: Jays beat Tigers

Tigers 3 Blue Jays 4

Jays are now 12-8 on the spring.

Again, the Jays defense seems to be the story:

• Second inning, with a runner on first, a single to right. Randal Grichuk came up throwing to third (I was cursing under my breath on the throw) and got the ball to third long before the runner, but Cavan Biggio couldn’t corral the throw. The runner was safe when he shouldn’t have been. It wasn’t called an error. I don’t know how it wasn’t an error.
• Next at-bat, Akil Baddoo decided to steal second. Kirk made a pretty good throw to second, but Marcus Semien saw that the runner on third was off the base and tried to throw behind him. Tried. Missed by 10 feet allowing both runners to score. The next batter hit a home run and, because Cavan wasn’t given an error, all three runs were earned. I feel sorry for Stripling.
• Alejandro Kirk blocked several pitches in the dirt but often had the ball get too far away, allowing the runners to move up. Boxscore lists two wild pitches but could be passed balls easily.

Ross Stripling did a much better job than his line suggests. 3.2 innings, 5 hits, 3 earned (only because it is almost impossible to get an error), no walks, and 7 strikeouts. He got 11 outs, and 7 were strikeouts. He was also the best interview I’ve seen this spring. Buck and Pat talked to him after he came out of the game, and he was very informative and did a nice job on play-by-play.

• Joel Payamps got four outs, just giving up a double. He got help when Randal Grichuk made a great catch running into the fence in right.
• Jordan Romano had a very impressive inning. 3 strikeouts on 15 pitches.
• Francisco Liriano also had a nice inning, ground out, pop out, strikeout. I’m giving into the idea that he is willing a spot on the team.
• Tim Mayza also had a nice quick inning, with a strikeout. I would rather Mayza than Liriano, but I think the team will go the other way.
• Ok....Dany Jimenez gave up a leadoff double in the ninth, so the tying run was in scoring position but didn't let him score. Popout, ground out, strikeout.

Offense:

Marcus Semien was the hitting star. He started the game with a home run and had an RBI double later in the game. He homered yesterday too. It seems like he is heating up at the right time.

• Cavan Biggio: 0 for 3, 3 k. .226. Love you, Cavan, you are going to have to do better. He is looking good at third base (minus the play mentioned above).
• Bo Bichette: 1 for 3, k. .219.
• Vladimir Gurrero: 1 for 4, double. .520. He ripped that one.
• Rowdy Tellez: 1 for 3, k. .194. Made a couple of nice plays on defense.
• Lourdes Gurriel: 0 for 3. .219.
• Randal Grichuk: 0 for 3. .276. He made a couple of nice plays in right field.
• Alejandro Kirk: 0 for 3, k..316. Maybe a bit of work on
• Jonathan Davis: 0 for 2, hit by pitch and steal. 308.
• Kevin Smith: walk.
• Santiago Espinal: 1 for 1, RBI..381. I want him for the Jays bench.

Tomorrow the Jays make the short drive to Clearwater to play the Phillies. The game is not on Sportsnet. The Phillies had a fixed camera feed last time the Jays played them, so maybe they will again.