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Sad News: Blue Jays’ Epic Offensive Surge Crushed in Heartbreaking Fashion by Tigers – Fans Left Reeling
The Blue Jays and their disgruntled fan base suffered another gut-punch of a loss on Sunday in Detroit, this time due to the typically dependable pitching, which included the back end of the bullpen, crumbling on a day when the bats barreled out runs for a season-high total.
Yes, there was a lot to consider and analyze following the Jays’ 14-11 loss.
A wild finish to a late-morning start to accommodate the whims of a streaming service, featured the Jays battling back from a five-run deficit to take an 11-9 lead in the eighth inning on Daulton Varsho’s two-out, three-run homer.
But the normally dominant Yimi Garcia gave up two runs in the bottom of the eighth before closer Jordan Romano yielded a walk-off three-run blast from Matt Vierling in the ninth as the Jays absorbed their third loss in a row at Comerica Park after winning the first of the four-game series back on Thursday.
Starter Yusei Kikuchi did not pitch well in the series finale. Giving up five earned runs and eight hits in just three innings, it was by far his worst of the season. With so few swing-and-misses he had no strikeouts after averaging a little more than six in his previous four starts.
But amid so many hits (31 in total between the two teams, 14 from the Jays), and momentum swings, Kikuchi’s outing became a mere footnote.
Same for Cavan Biggio, who started in right field in place of George Springer. His two-run blast in the fourth inning, his second homer of the season, provided a much-needed jolt after Toronto trailed the Tigers 5-0.
Once again, an inability to cash in runners denied the Jays in the early stages when they loaded the bases in the second inning with two outs, and again in the third — this time with none out,— but no runs would score.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did record a four-hit game, Bo Bichette drove in a pair with 2-for-5 day, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa continued to rake with a seventh-inning solo homer and is now 9-for-19 with two long balls in his past five games.
ONE AND DONE
The Jays’ woeful plight at the plate has been well-documented
Whether it’s baseball or any other sport, punching first is always preferred unless a late-game knockout can be produced. In terms of setting a tone, scoring in the first at-bats is ideal. For the Jays, it’s easier said than done.
Take Sunday as an example. Davis Schneider led off by grounding out. Danny Jansen popped out. Guerrero singled but Bichette then hit into a force out.
Add it up and the Jays failed to score a run in the first inning for the 18th game in a row.
SITTING OUT
The starting lineup did not feature Springer or Justin Turner.
Springer, who is signed through 2026 and is batting just .188, has as many hits (33) as strikeouts this season.
Turner, acquired in the off-season to provide some punch in the middle of the order, has gone deep four times, but has zero homers since swatting a pair in an April 29 win over Kansas City. He doesn’t have even a multi-hit game in that span.
Turner was used as a pinch-hitter on Sunday, hitting an RBI groundout as the Jays inched closer in the fifth inning.
He then led off the seventh inning by flying out to shallow right field and drew a two-out walk in the eighth before being replaced by Kevin Kiermaier as a pinch-runner who came around to score on the Varsho blast.
NICK OF TIME
Memorial Day may actually turn memorable for the Blue Jays, whose seven-game road trip takes them to Chicago and a date with the woeful White Sox on Monday.
When the Chisox visited the Rogers Centre last week, the Jays took two of three to win their first series in a month.
The Jays’ beleaguered lineup took full advantage of callup Nick Nastrini as the home side plated seven runs in one inning en route to a 9-2 win.
Nastrini will face the Jays Monday (2:10 p.m. ET) at Guaranteed Rate Field. When it comes to the Jays’ offence, nothing is ever guaranteed but the sight of Nastrini on the mound should summon more than a few pleasant thoughts.
“I really just wasn’t establishing that upper third of the zone,” said Nastrini following his outing in Toronto, which featured six walks and zero strikeouts.
“When I don’t do that, it kind of makes it tough to pitch.”
Nastrini was able to record only 10 outs, while yielding seven hits.
His counterpart, Chris Bassitt, went a season-high seven innings to earn the win.
The two will oppose each other in the series opener
Kevin Gausman is Tuesday’s scheduled starter followed by Alek Manoah, who is hoping to bounce back from a poor outing in Detroit when he gave up six runs (two unearned) and two home runs in 4.2 innings in a 6-2 loss.
Mike Clevinger and Chris Flexen are the scheduled starters for the South Siders.
The Jays will avoid facing Garrett Crochet, who combined with three relievers to two-hit Toronto last Tuesday in a 5-0 win that snapped a four-game losing skid.
