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Series 38: Pirates @ Blue Jays (Fri., Sat., Sun. Aug. 11 to 13, 2017)

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Place:    Rogers Centre  Toronto, ON


Fri. Aug. 11
Starting Pitchers:    Marcus Stroman  RH (Jays)    10-5  3.17  ERA
                              Jameson Taillon  RH (Pirates)  6-5  4.60  ERA
Time:                    7PM
TV/Radio:              Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Sat. Aug. 12
Starting Pitchers:    Chris Rowley    RH  (Jays)
                            Trevor Williams RH  (Pirates)    5-4  4.17  ERA
Time:                    1PM
TV/Radio:              Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Sun.Aug. 13
Starting Pitchers:    J.A. Happ        LH  (Jays)          5-8  3.77  ERA
                            Chad Kuhl        RH  (Pirates)      5-7  4.53  ERA
Time:                    1PM
TV/Radio:            Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Source:  MLB.com
 
The N.L.'s  Pittsburgh Pirates (57-58) visit the Rogers Centre for a three-game Interleague series against the A.L.'s Toronto Blue Jays (54-60).

The Pirates are fourth in their N.L. Central division, 3 GBL Chicago Cubs and 7.5 GB out of a WC spot.

The Blue Jays, having taken two out of three from the visiting Yankees in their most recent series, sit last in their A.L. East division 11 GBL Boston Red Sox, and 4.0 GB out of a WC spot.

Encouraging signs for the Blue Jays who have meandered and slogged through for most of the first half.  Only recently have the Jays got it together, as their starting pitchers namely Marco Estrada, (who got his first win since May 27 in the last game versus the Yankees),  seems to have finally turned the corner on his woeful season. 

Other good news for the Jays is their offence and base running has improved considerably. 

When the Jays win, everyone feels good, something that should have commenced long ago at the very start of this season.  Sad that it seems to be coming together for this team at this late point in what is looking to be a lost season instead.

Let's just keep on cheering them on no matter where it takes them.

GO JAYS GO!
 
Pirates 4  Blue Jays 2

A couple of errors, another injury, a milestone.  This game had all of that as the Jays attempted to narrow the score but it was a case of too little, too late.

While Jays starter Marcus Stroman pitched well into the eighth inning, the Pirates were in command of the lead.  A few errors namely by young Jay Rob Refsnyder allowed for Pittsburgh to advance on the basepaths.

The injury?  Catcher Russell Martin was seen hobbling in his initial at-bat and removed himself from the game in the second inning on what appeared to be an oblique strain.  In the words of Jays skipper Gibbons, this injury definitely 'hurts':

?That would be a huge loss, there?s no doubt about it,? he said of Martin. ?He?s our anchor back there.?

A milestone was reached by Jays slugger Jose Bautista as Joey Bats hit his 20th home run for the eighth consecutive season.  The only other Blue Jay to accomplish the feat was Carlos Delgado.  Certainly Bautista joins elite company as there are currently three Major Leaguers with longer streaks who are still active.

Happy for him.  Would have been even better if the Jays had won too:

?It?s great,? Bautista said of the statistical milestone. ?It?s cool. It?s something that obviously you?re proud of as a player, but those individual things, you try to think about them and enjoy them a little more in the off-season."

Game story:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/08/11/martin-hurt-in-blue-jays-loss-to-pirates.html
 
Piratws 2  Blue Jays  7

A major league debut with a major league win.  That was for Jays starter rookie Chris Rowley recently called up from Triple A.

Rowley pitched a litle over five innings in allowing one run
and five hits plus a walk.  He received a standing ovation from the more than 46,000+ spectators at the Rogers Centre when his pitching session ended.

Jays skipper Gibbons was impressed:

"Awesome, really," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of his performance. "We?ve been looking for that."

Absolutely.

Game recap:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/rowley-solid-mlb-debut-blue-jays-topple-pirates/
 
Pirates 1  Blue Jays 7

There's something about the Jays' Ryan Goins.  He may not elicit excitement as a hitter a la Donaldson or Smoak, but when it comes to the RISP stat, Goins just tied Smoak for the team lead.

Goins two-run double coupled with Josh Donaldson's two-run homer all in the first inning served to drum up an early Jays lead, which they never relinquished.  Add in starter J.A.Happ, the winner, who allowed a run and four hits in a little over five innings of work.

A slew of relievers from Barnes to Tepera, Campos, and Howell continued to stymie the Pirates.

Oh yes, congratulations to Jays skipper John Gibbons on earning his 700th win.

Games like these have a good feel to them all round.  It shoudn't really come as a surprise in light of how well the Blue Jays have been playing on this homestand.

Keep on winnin'!


https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/08/13/donaldson-happ-lead-blue-jays-past-pirates.html
 
Darryl said:
With in four games of the wild card but many teams to leap over. Such a strange season.
Click to expand...

Basically looks like the season was over in those first two weeks. Yet it also feels like they're not really playing that well but keep suggesting they're getting close to being in that race. Probably actually done well to be where they are now
 
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