The Toronto Blue Jays overcame last night’s fireworks to salvage the final game of the four series with the Atlanta Braves.
After an anger-filled game on Wednesday, the Blue Jays and Braves were back at it on Thursday evening for what most were anticipating as another high-tension match-up. Atlanta sent out Julio Teheran (3-3, 4.08) while Toronto countered with Marcus Stroman (3-2, 3.33) on the mound. Toronto would take the field tonight missing the American League leader in hits, Kevin Pillar, due to a two-game suspension.
Toronto Blue Jays: 9 R, 12 H, 0 E
Atlanta Braves: 0 R, 7 H, 0 E
Lineups:
Blue Jays
Here's our lineup for tonight's series finale in Atlanta pres. by @MajesticOnField. https://t.co/ANNQWLQyO2 pic.twitter.com/tMWvaawnsK
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 18, 2017
Braves
Let's get that SWEEP! @Braves LIVE starts tonight at 7p ET on FOX Sports Southeast & streaming on FOX Sports GO. #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/hk7jBsFWXD
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) May 18, 2017
Highlights
Teheran helped keep up “The Code” when facing Jose Bautista in the first inning of tonight’s game. The right-hander took little time in doling out their perceived sense of justice by hitting Bautista in the thigh with his second pitch. An opportunity the Blue Jays lineup didn’t let pass when Kendrys Morales singled, with Darrell Ceciliani and Chris Coghlan following with back-to-back doubles to set up a 3-0 lead after one.
Amidst a flurry of boos from the crowd, Bautista got the offense rolling again in the third inning with a leadoff double over the Matt Kemp‘s head in left-field. Morales’ second single of the game would bring Bautista to the plate for a 4-0 lead.
Recent call-up, Darrell Ceciliani, helped extend the lead to six by following up Morales’ single with a monster two-run homerun (424 ft – 109 mph) to right-field. Unfortunately, he appeared to injure his left shoulder in the process.
After a 37-minute rain delay the bats came out showing no rust whatsoever. With no outs in the fourth inning, Luke Maile and Marcus Stroman, went back-to-back, Maile to left and Stroman an opposite field shot to right.
#BlueJays Luke Maile & Marcus Stroman are the first AL catcher / pitcher in history to hit back-to-back Home Runs in an interleague game
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 19, 2017
The parade of runs didn’t stop with a pitching change by the Braves. Morales would get his third hit, and second RBI, of the night by driving in Ezequiel Carrera who had reached via a walk, and advanced on a Bautista single. In all the Blue Jays put up their third three-spot over four innings for a 9-0 lead. They also chased Atlanta’s starting pitcher, Teheran, who would be charged with nine-earned-runs over his three-plus innings of work.
Aside from providing the Blue Jays with some offensive pop tonight’s starting pitcher, Marcus Stroman, put together another excellent start. He was very sharp, working down and working quickly throughout the evening. His final line of the night would read: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K on a 103 pitches. He would leave the game in favour of Ryan Tepera after surrendering back-to-back two-out singles.
The bullpen combination of Tepera (1.1 IP, 0 R, K), Joe Smith (1 IP, 0 R, 3 K) and Jason Grilli (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K) would put together 3.1 IP of shutout work to keep the Braves off the scoreboard and secure Toronto’s third shutout of the season.
Lowlights
Nothing of note to breakdown tonight in this section with the exception of another injured Blue Jay. This time Steve Pearce‘s replacement Darrell Ceciliani appeared to have injured his shoulder while swatting a homerun in the third inning. Definitely not something you see everyday.
Darrell Ceciliani left tonight's game with possible left shoulder subluxation. He will undergo further testing tomorrow in Baltimore.
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 19, 2017
Noteworthy
- Toronto’s Kevin Pillar was handed a 2-game suspension from MLB and the Blue Jays organization for his transgression during last night’s game with Atlanta.
- Due to the suspension mentioned above Pillar was removed from the 25 and 40-man rosters to make room for newcomer Dwight Smith Jr from AAA Buffalo. Interestingly enough, Smith Jr., grew up in Atlanta, so he it was a homecoming for him of sorts.
- Injured left-hander Francisco Liriano threw a side session (bullpen) today with catcher Russell Martin. No additional news was provided on how things went, however, it is a positive step forward for both injured players.
Another interesting tidbit on Troy Tulowitzki was shared from Toronto’s Class-A affiliate in Dunedin.
A line drive single off the bat of Troy Tulowitzki ties the game at 1! Tulo is 2-2 already here in the third.
— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) May 18, 2017
Player of the Game
Living Well is the Best Revenge. Who's your @JaysFromCouch Player of the Game tonight?
— Roy-Z ☘ (@rolewiii) May 19, 2017
