Jays win in Extras (is that allowed?)

Blue Jays 3 Tigers 2 (10 innings)

We win one in extras, thank God Vlad didn’t fall when he stumbled after third base.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one:

The Jays got an excellent start from their starting pitcher Alek Manoah. Alek was terrific through 6 innings, allowing just 1 hit and hitting a batter (though as Alek calmly suggested to the plate umpire, it seemed that Willi Castro moved his knee into the path of the ball), with 7 strikeouts.

He did seem to tire in the seventh, when he gave up 3 singles, with 1 strikeout, leaving the game with runners on the corners and 1 run in.

Trevor Richards relieved and got a ground ball to short, hit just a little too softly for a double play, so the tying run scored.

Joakim Soria pitched a scoreless eighth, even after walking the leadoff hitter. But two strikeouts (the first helped out by Derek Hill trying, and failing, to bunt) and a fly out got him out of the inning.

Jordan Romano started the ninth. He gave up a 1-out single but that was it. Romano came back out for the tenth (see below).

Offensively? Well, we’ve had more hits (12) than we’ve had most games lately, but they just added up to 3 runs. 12 hits were offset by a 2 for 9 night with RISP.

We got:

• A run in the sixth: Alejandro Kirk hit his 4th home run of the season.
• A run in the seventh: Randal Grichuk got a “single” on a popup that the Tigers’ second baseman lost in the sky. Two outs later Bo singled him home. Vlad followed with another single but Kirk couldn’t keep the inning going.
• And then the run in the 10th, see below.

Dickerson (who hadn’t really grown on me) had 3 hits, including the game-winning. Bo and Lourdes had 2 each (Bo had a steal and was caught steal, though replays seemed to suggest he was safe). Lourdes also had 2 walks.

Everyone in the starting lineup had a hit, except for Santiago Espinal, who came out of the game with a hip flexor strain. You’ll likely remember that Kirk missed a month with that injury earlier in the season, but I’d imagine there are different grades of that strain. I’m hoping it won’t be as bad for Santiago.

We did manage to score the Manfred Man (Vlad) in the tenth. Corey Dickerson singled to left, Vlad read it well but then stumbled a bit when he rounded third. Still, he was safe with a bit to spare. Lourdes Gurriel walked to put runners on first and second, but Teoscar popped out.

Romano stayed in the game for the bottom of the tenth. Zack Short came in as Manfred Man. But Zack was thrown out 6-5 trying to get to third on a ground ball to short. Zack got a late start going to third, and Bo made a very nice throw. Willi Castro hit a fly to medium right field. A strikeout ended the game and, I’m not sure I believe it myself, Jays win in extras.

Jays of the Day: Romano (.553 WPA, good of Charlie to put him out for the second inning), Dickerson (.380), Soria (.112), and Manoah (.099). Gurriel deserves an honorable mention.

Suckage: Randal (-.348), Semien (-.140), Teoscar (-.142). Vlad had the number too, but scoring that run was big, and I worried that he would have waited to make sure it wasn’t caught.

Tomorrow is a 1:00 Eastern start. Berrios has to have a much much better start than his last. Matt Boyd starts for the Tigers.

We had 473 comments in the GameThread. I led us to a much-appreciated win.