The Toronto Blue Jays (4-5) took a 9-8 loss to the New York Yankees (7-2) in a thrilling contest on Saturday night. Toronto pinned themselves in a deep hole early on in the game that they were never able to dig themselves out of. SP Kevin Gausman made his second start of the young 2024 campaign, and it was rather underwhelming, as the veteran right-hander yielded 5 earned runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. Toronto made an effort to recover from their woes late in the game, but it proved to be too little, too late.
Gausman’s Velo Dips Contribute to Poor Outing
Kevin Gausman’s outing was, seemingly, a step in the wrong direction. The 2023 All Star averaged only 91.4 MPH with his four-seam fastball in his outing, 3.3 MPH lower than his yearly average, only topping out at 94.6 MPH. The splitter also experienced a decrease in velocity, with the pitch’s average speed at 82.3 MPH, a 4 MPH drop from his yearly average of 86.3 MPH. This issue seems to have contributed to his struggles early on in the ballgame.
In the first inning, superstar Aaron Judge faced Gausman with a runner on and 1 out. Gausman hurled an 84 MPH splitter down-and-in off the plate to Judge, but the 6’7” phenom got his barrel to the baseball and roped it 425 FT to left-centre field for a 2-run shot. Two batters later, slugger Giancarlo Stanton took a 91 MPH fastball from Gausman on the outside corner and roped it 100 MPH to right field for a solo shot. RF George Springer believed a fan in the stands interfered with the play, but the Blue Jays challenge of the HR was unsuccessful, giving the Yanks a 3-0 lead after one frame.
To begin the 2nd inning, Anthony Volpe seemingly struck out on a 2-2 count. However, the Yankees challenged the play due to an alleged catcher’s interference error by C Brian Serven. While it seemed that the contact occurred after the ball was in Serven’s mitt, the MLB Replay Room in New York came to a different conclusion, ruling that catcher’s interference was present, giving Volpe first base on a controversial play.
To follow this up, the Yankees next two batters reached base, giving Gleyber Torres an at-bat with the bases loaded. Torres launched a 93 MPH fastball up in the zone to left field that LF Daulton Varsho caught at the warning track, scoring Volpe from third base. Then, Brian Serven’s night got even worse, as he got charged with a passed ball that scored catcher Austin Wells from third base on the next play, extending New York’s lead to 5-0. Gausman’s contest was capped off with a Juan Soto single, scoring Oswaldo Cabrera and giving the Yankees a 6-0 lead.
Blue Jays Offence Comes Up Short
The Toronto Blue Jays offence struggled immensely throughout the beginning of the ballgame against SP Clarke Schmidt. In the first inning, Toronto’s offensive struggles continued. George Springer started the game with a 93 MPH double down the right field line to give the Blue Jays a runner on to start the contest. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped up to the dish and grounded out to shortstop, moving Springer to third base with only 1 away. SS Bo Bichette struck out swinging, however, on a 96 MPH sinker that caught plenty of the plate. 3B Justin Turner stepped up to the dish and grounded out to Anthony Volpe, resulting in no scores for the Blue Jays after one frame.
In the 3rd and 4th innings, the Blue Jays began to chip away at New York’s 6-0 lead. Justin Turner roped a 106 MPH sacrifice fly to Alex Verdugo with the bases loaded, putting Toronto on the board in the 3rd frame. In the 4th inning, CF Kevin Kiermaier chopped a ground ball to second base that resulted in a fielder’s choice, scoring Ernie Clement from third base to cut the deficit to four runs.
After adding 3 runs, the Blue Jays came up looking to start a rally in the 7th frame against Luke Weaver. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined a high-and-away cutter from Weaver to right field for a 362 FT solo homer, making the score 9-3 for the Yankees. Then, Bo Bichette roped a 101 MPH double down the left field line to give Toronto more life. Justin Turner took a walk on a full count, bringing up newcomer Daniel Vogelbach with two men on.
Vogelbach started the AB by taking 3 straight balls from Weaver. The Yankees reliever stormed back with 2 consecutive called strikes, pinning Vogelbach in a full count in a pivotal moment of the game. The left-handed slugger took a cutter at his shoulders and crushed it 362 FT to right field for an RBI double off the wall. With the score at 9-4, 2B Ernie Clement flew out 352 FT deep to centre field, giving him an RBI on the sacrifice fly, adding another run for the Blue Jays.
Fast forward to the top of the ninth where Toronto got the first two men on in Justin Turner and Daniel Vogelbach by way of a single and a walk. Ernie Clement hit a ground ball to shortstop that pinned SS Anthony Volpe in shallow left field. However, Vogelbach’s speed proved to be costly, as Volpe made the quick throw to second to retire the big lefty and give the Yankees a much-needed first out.
Manager John Schneider decided to pinch hit Davis Schneider for Daulton Varsho, a move that ended up paying off, as Schneider roped a 99.7 MPH double to deep right field that got over the head of RF Juan Soto. Justin Turner scored easily, making the score a manageable 9-6. With Ernie Clement on third and only one away, PH Alejandro Kirk grounded out to second base, scoring Clement while moving Schneider to third base.
The Blue Jays ended up clearing their bench, pinch-hitting Cavan Biggio for CF Kevin Kiermaier. After taking a tough two-strike slider down-and-in from CP Clay Holmes, Biggio caught up to a 97 MPH sinker that he laced into centre field, scoring Schneider and pulling Toronto within one. Former-Astro George Springer stepped up to the dish, looking to give the Blue Jays the lead with one swing. Holmes started the at-bat with a called strike at the knees on an 87 MPH slider. Unfortunately, on an 0-1 count, Springer chased out of the zone one too many times, as he swung at two outside sliders to conclude the ballgame.
Overall, 8 runs is definitely nothing to spit at, especially when the Blue Jays are 21st in cumulative runs thus far in 2024, which are worse marks than the Kansas City Royals (23rd in 2023) and Colorado Rockies (18th in 2023). However, it’s the inability to register the “big hit” in key moments that results in the Blue Jays falling short. Whether that’s George Springer’s AB in the 9th against Clay Holmes or Bo Bichette’s AB in the 1st against Clarke Schmidt, both are cases demonstrating that the Blue Jays are struggling with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays are 26th in MLB when it comes to OPS with RISP (.586) so far in the 2024 campaign.
Credit to the Long Relievers
RPs Mitch White and Nate Pearson deserve some credit for today’s performances, specifically due to their abilities to conserve arms for tomorrow’s series finale. Pearson and White went a combined 6.1 IP, while allowing only 3 earned runs and striking out 5 batters. Pearson is yet to allow an earned run in the young 2024 campaign. As former starting pitchers, both Pearson and White are expected to have their longevity play a substantial part in Toronto’s bullpen for the upcoming contests.
Blue Jays Go For Series Victory on Sunday
The series finale against the New York Yankees begins on April 7th at 1:35 PM EST. SP Bowden Francis takes the mound for Toronto, hoping to rebound from a poor outing in Houston. Meanwhile, the Yankees will trot out SP Luis Gil, a young right-hander that allowed only 1 run in his season debut against the Diamondbacks. After an improved offensive showing, Blue Jays fans are hoping that they can continue that momentum into Sunday’s contest.