2021 Game One-Thirty-Five: Blue Jays 8, Athletics 0

 

They're a merry band, is what they are.

"Attaboy, Grich," I was heard to remark upon the couch as Randal Grichuk took a close pitch on a 3-2 count in the home half of the third to work a walk. Grichuk had already doubled in a run the previous inning, and had made a fairly spectacular running catch in centre, too (scorer's note: credit LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with an Outfield Assist for the nice little hug he gave right after), so Grichuk was already having an unusually good day, and did not need my encouragement, but I share with you this moment -- this earnest, at-home, out loud attaboy followed by a fond diminutive -- in an attempt to convey to you the degree to which I want Randal Grichuk to succeed out there. He seems nice! And he's been having a hard go. Also having a hard go: literally all Oakland Athletics on this day, as Robbie Ray struck out ten of them and allowed them but a lone hit. I don't think anybody got past second, maybe? And as to the boys, and their boppings, I mean: both Marcus Semien and our king Alejandro Kirk homered, Vladdy went three-for-five, and Bo Bichette went four-for-four with a double whilst, I will remind you, playing shortstop (and a pretty good one!) for a Major League baseball team (and a pretty good one!). Charlie Montoyo even got Nate Pearson his low-leverage opportunity in the ninth, up 8-0, and Pearson struck out the side, so even that part went great. Just a joyous weekend of Blue Jays baseball all around, wasn't it? Following the game, my brother-in-law and I discussed these recent events through the medium of SMS text messaging, and also looked ahead, and determined that maybe we should just forget about the Red Sox, who we do not play again, and turn our attention instead to the Yankees, who are only a half game ahead of Boston, and who we play an almost-uncomfortable seven more times this season. I may have gotten worked up to the point of texting YANKEES OR BUST as its own complete message but it is difficult to say. Off to the Bronx!

KS