The Toronto Blue Jays came home and welcomed the leading AL Central Cleveland Guardians for a three game series.
Before the game, Jays prospect Addison Barger was called up from Triple-A Buffalo. In a corresponding move, Daniel Vogelbach was designated for assignment. Vogelbach had signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays in February to give him his second stint with the club. Unfortunately for the 31 year old, this stint was short like the first time he came to Toronto. Vogelbach had made the opening day roster out of spring training earlier this year, and in a part time role, he accumulated a .186 batting average, a .578 OPS with one homer and eight RBIs. Teams may see Vogelbach as a viable option for pinch hitting situations.
Kevin Gausman (5-4, 4.00) got the start for the Blue Jays as he faced off against Logan Allen (6-3, 5.57) of the Guardians.
Gausman threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs and striking out six, taking his fifth loss of the year. The winning pitcher, Allen, threw 5 innings, giving up one run on three hits, walking three and striking out three, picking up his seventh win on the season.
The offence-heavy Guardians struck first in the top of the 2nd, when rookie Daniel Schneemann smacked an RBI double to give his squad a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the 4th, a solo shot by Will Brennan would extend the Guardians’ lead to 2-0. An inning later, in the 5th, Andres Gimenez would give Cleveland a 3-0 lead with an RBI single.
The Blue Jays would get their only run in the bottom of the 6th, when Davis Schneider came through with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Unfortunately for Toronto, this would be all the offence they get, and the score would stay the same. The Blue Jays’ offence was only able to muster three hits and score one run, once again showing the struggles their bats have experienced this year.
The Blue Jays will look to even their series with a win tomorrow afternoon. The Guardians will send Carlos Carrasco (2-5, 5.50) to the bump to start against the Blue Jays. Toronto does not have a starter lined up for the game and have not yet named a starter. Bowden Francis (2-2, 7.36) is a candidate to either start or serve in bulk relief for game two.
