I heard someone on the radio saying this was a ‘must win’ game, and it bugged me (course Buck was talking about must win games in May. But if you call this ‘must win’ and they lose, does that mean they stop playing? Stop trying? Win or loss they play Friday and they will still be in first, so how could this be must win?
I don’t know if it was the several days off, or if it was just his turn, but Eric Lauer didn’t have it tonight. We found out early when Byron Buxton homered to start the game (he would homer again in the third). Lauer went 4.2 innings, with 10 hits, 8 runs, 6 earned, no walks, 4 strikeouts and 4 home runs. His ERA went from 2.76 to 3.21. Bo Bichette didn’t help him, making an error that led to two runs scoring.
To switch things up, the bullpen was pretty good tonight:
Tommy Nance allowed just a hit with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.
Justin Bruihl didn’t allow a baserunner in his 1.1, with two strikeouts.
Seranthony Domínguez got the last two outs of the eighth, walking two, but didn’t allow them to score.
Of course that set up a save spot for Jeff Hoffman. Jeff got a fly out to right. Then a strikeout. That was followed by a double. Thankfully a 3-1 ground out ended the game and got Hoffman his 29th save. Not a bad number of saves.
Jays of the Day: Barger (.275), Gimenez (.259), Davis (.220), Bo (.178), and France (.120). Lets give an honourable mention to Kirk for that double in the ninth.
Other Award: Lauer (-.582) and Varsho (-.124)
Tomorrow the Jays, and I, get an off-day tomorrow.