Sloppy Blue Jays literally throw game away in series-opener with Pittsburgh Pirates
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was forced to leave Monday night's game in the fifth inning with what the club described as left hamstring tightness.
Article content
Pitching was the theme Monday night in Pittsburgh, a compelling matchup, at least on paper, pitting Kevin Gausman and Paul Skenes.
Gausman is a pillar on Toronto’s starting rotation that has partially been responsible for the club’s AL-leading record, while Skenes has the misfortune of pitching for a Pirates club that finds itself well on its way to another non-playoff season.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Sloppy Blue Jays literally throw game away in series-opener with Pittsburgh Pirates Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Amid this epic duel, news of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being pulled from the game in the fifth inning did send some shockwaves.
It was revealed Vlad Jr. was dealing with left hamstring tightness.
Through five innings, it was a 2-2 game, which seemed to indicate how well Gausman and Skenes were dealing, but the scoreline was deceiving considering neither right-hander was particularly dominant.
Both would see their pitch counts mount, while at the same each picked up their game as the evening unfolded.
Too many pitches meant both would earn no-decisions as the game turned into a battle of the bullpens.
A Brendon Little wild pitch in the seventh inning would allow the Buccos to score their third run as they went on to beat the Blue Jays 5-2.
Speaking of wild, the benches cleared when Tommy Pham and Tyler Heineman had an exchange following a walk to Pham.
Both bullpens came onto the field of play in as strange a scene one will see.
The Jays would play one of their sloppiest games of the season, the wild throws and errant throws leading to three errors.
When more errors are committed than runs produced, losses are inevitable.
How the Jays threw this game away in the late innings will sting the most.
The following are three takeaways on a night the Jays began a six-game road trip against two inferior opponents, a night when manager John Schneider was tossed in the seventh inning when he argued how the strike zone was adjudicated.
1. Skinny on Skenes
For the first time, Skenes got to face the Blue Jays, who once again had many fans in attendance rooting for them at PNC Park.
In his past five home starts, Skenes hadn’t given up a run as the Pirates, who don’t win that often, captured all five games.
A couple of softly hit balls found holes in the infield to give the Jays two hits off Skenes through the opening two innings.
In the third inning, the Jays forced Skenes to increase his pitch count.
In fact, Skenes needed 26 pitches in the third to get three outs.
Through three innings, his pitch count had risen to 59.
Through five innings, Skenes had struck out seven.
His night ended following six innings, a 96-pitch outing that featured eight strikeouts, five hits, one walk and two earned runs.
2. Gausman lowdown
He went up against Tariq Skubal when the Jays were in Detroit.
It was Skenes in the series opener for Gausman, who never backs down from any challenge.
His start wasn’t that good when so much traffic was around Gausman.
Former teammate Spencer Horwitz recorded hits off Gausman in his first two at-bats.
After giving up the game’s first run, Gausman’s offence gave the veteran right-hander a 2-1 lead at the end of the top of the third.
In the home half, the Pirates drew even when catcher Heineman couldn’t hold onto the ball following a nice short hop and throw home by Vlad Jr.
Gausman did induce a double play in a very uneven third inning, a microcosm of his outing.
Following a walk, his second of the game, Gausman had runners on the corner as his pitch count began to climb.
The damage was limited when Bo Bichette made a great off-balanced throw to first to end the frame in preventing a run.
Gausman settled in by retiring the side in the ensuing two innings.
His 96-pitch outing ended following five complete innings.
3. Countdown to Biebs day
One player very familiar to the way Shane Bieber pitches and the impact he has on games and in the club house is Andres Gimenez having been Bieber’s teammate in Cleveland.
Bieber will make his debut for the Blue Jays Friday night in Miami.
Gimenez was acquired from Cleveland this past off-season, while Bieber’s acquisition came at this year’s trade deadline.
Bieber hasn’t pitched in the majors since April 24, 2024.
In the same game, Gimenez went 0-3 that included three strikeouts in an 8-0 home loss to the Boston Red Sox.
Gimenez isn’t known for his bat, but he can hit on occasion.
In his first at-bat Monday against Skenes, Gimenez sent a first-pitch curveball to lead off the third inning into right field for a single, the first of three hits by the Jays in the frame as they would take a 2-1 lead.
Up next
Every Max Scherzer start is a must-see as the veteran turns back the block; he’s been better than advertised in recent outings, arguably pitching better than any of his Toronto teammates; the right-hander will start Tuesday (6:40 p.m. first pitch); the host Pirates will counter with Mitch Keller, whom some in baseball had linked to the Blue Jays in the days leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.