Series 48: Blue Jays @ Twins ( Thurs., Fri., Sat., Sun. Sept. 14 to 17, 2017)

[hockeyfan1]

                                                                        @




Place:     Target Field    Minneapolis,  MN


Thurs. Sept. 1
Starting Pitchers:      Brett Anderson   LH   (Jays)        3-3   5.90  ERA
                                     Jose Berrios        RH   (Twins)    12-7  3.94  ERA
Time:                            8PM
TV/Radio:                   Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Fri. Sept. 15
Starting Pitchers:       J.A. Happ           LH (Jays)           8-10  3.73  ERA
                                     Bartolo Colon     RH (Twins)        6-12  6.41  ERA
Time :                          8PM
TV/Radio:                  Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Sat. Sept. 16
Starting Pitchers:       Marco Estrada    RH (Jays)         8-8  4.96  ERA
                                      Adalberto Mejia  LH (Twins)       4-5  4.47  ERA
Time:                             8PM
TV/Radio:                   Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Sun. Sept. 17
Starting Pitchers:         Joe Biagini        RH (Jays)         3-10  5.29  ERA
                                         Kyle Gibson     RH  (Twins)     10-10  4.97  ERA
Time:                                2PM
TV/Radio:                    Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Source:   theStar.com,   MLB.com

[hockeyfan1]

The Toronto Blue Jays (68-78) visit the Minnesota Twins (76-69) for a four-games series at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The Twins, who are 13.5 GBL Cleveland Indians in the A.L. Central, are in so far some solid possesion of the second WC spot, 2.0  games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.

The Blue Jays are a lost cause to make the post-season.  This is their first visit to Minnesota this season, though the Jays had a three-game homestand  versus the Twins in August, in which they lost two out of three.

While Minnesota will be playing to continue to solidify their WC placing and widen their lead, Toronto will be mostly playing for pride.  Not lost on the Jays lately has been the excellent if not enthusiastic  play of the youngsters in the lineup, from Richard Urena to Ryan Goins to Carlos Ramirez.  Not to mention the revitalized offensive play of off-again-on again-part-time-comedian Darwin Barney, as well as Teoscar Hernandez.

So, more good luck to them.

GO JAYS GO!

[hockeyfan1]

Blue Jays 2  Twins 3   10th

Minnesota's Byron Buxton seems to have a thing or two going with the Toronto Blue Jays.  This is the same Byron guy who hit three home runs in a game at the Rogers Centre awhile back.  He made miery for the Jays. 

Well, he did it again, only this time Buxton hit a solo shot against Jays relievers Luis Santos in the bottom of the 10th inning.  Game over.

Of course, before Buxton did his thing, Toronto's Justin Smoak lifted his team by hitting a two run shot that tied the game up in the top of the ninth inning.

Jays starter Brett Anderson lasted all of 4+ innings and pitched a somewhat little erratic in allowing just two runs on five hits,including four walks -- the first time in more than eighteen innings that Anderson had issued walks.  It seems he was stymied  by a blistered finger problem.  Some  good relief work from the bullpen, particularly young Carlos Ramirez and his still perfect ERA (0.00).

Then in came Santos and the pitch to Buxton...

Game recap:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/09/15/twins-byron-buxton-bests-blue-jays-again.html

[hockeyfan1]

Blue Jays  7  Twins  2

The Bringer of Rain, Josh Donaldson, hit two home runs and Justin Smoak, Bautista, and Kendrys Morales contributed in driving in the runs, in the Blue Jays win over the Twins Saturday evening.

Jays starter Marco Estrada pitched a stellar performance in allowing just the two runs and shutting down the Twins in pitching eight innings of solid ball.  Estrada got the win and reliever Matt Dermody the save while reliever Matt Dermody closed out the ninth.

For Donaldson, he has been simply on a tear since the second half of this season, as his output of 17  homers and  42 RBIs could easily  surpass last year's stats.  Goes to show just what kind of year Donaldson could have really had if he hadn't been injured in the first-half of the season.

Game recap:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/09/16/josh-donaldson-home-runs-lift-blue-jays-over-twins.html


In Friday's game, Donaldson and Pillar homered  for the Jays and Russell Martin went three-for-four on the night, as the Blue Jays solved "The Big Sexy" -- Twins starter Bartolo Colon.

Jays starter J.A. Happ earned the win.  Relievers Leone and Tepera continued to hold off Minnesota with Osuna closing out with the save.

Story:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/09/16/jays-finally-get-to-colon-in-win-over-twins.html

[Captain Canuck]

Estrada got the win and reliever Matt Dermody the save.

I'm really interested how you record a save in a 7-2 game pitching 1 inning?

[hockeyfan1]

Estrada got the win and reliever Matt Dermody the save.

I'm really interested how you record a save in a 7-2 game pitching 1 inning?

My insert, my bad.  He just closed out the ninth without the save. 

[hockeyfan1]

Blue Jays 7  Twins 13

The Bringer of Rain, the Jays' Josh Donaldson, did it again as he had done Saturday's victory, hitting two homers in powering Toronto to a...wait...this wasn't a win...

...not the same result even though the Jays were ahead 5-0 ias the second inning rolled around, before the roof fell in, so to speak, on Jays' starter Joe Biagini.

Minnesota scored six runs off Biagini who lasted just a little over 1+ innings, and proceeded to erase Toronto's lead enroute to a blast of a win.

Chris Rowley didn't fare any better in relief as the Twins scored six runs off him, all in the fifth inning.  The Twins' Mauer was one of those as he whacked a grand slam that started the Twins' drive.

All is not gloomy as the Jays' J.D. (that's Donaldon) who's second home run of the game brought it to #30 -- the third consecutive year he has hit 30 homers.  In fact, Donaldson is the only A.L.er with the most homers since the second half of the season as well as in consecutive multihomer games.

Game http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/toronto-blue-jays-minnesota-twins-recap-sunday-1.4293891

[Arn]

Mauer hit the Grand Slam in the 5th, off Rowley, no?

[hockeyfan1]

Mauer hit the Grand Slam in the 5th, off Rowley, no?

Yes,  though I had to find a photo depicting the description to confirm that.  But yes, it was against Rowley that started the Twins' drive in earnest.