2022 Game Fourteen: Blue Jays 4, Astros 3

 

 Vladdy was w h e e l i n ' 

It's hard to believe (if you are me) that the last time for-sure-Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander started against the Blue Jays, it was the no-hitter back in September of 2019, but this is apparently the case (who am I to doubt Dan Shulman?). He was not far off that form at all Friday night, at least not through the first three innings, in which he allowed no hits and had faced the minimum (Bo Bichette walked but was, alas, caught stealing). But Raimel Tapia singled to open the fourth, glided first-to-third on Vladdy's liner to right, and scored on what could well have been an inning-ending double play but instead ended up a run-scoring fielder's choice on account of Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s hustle down the line (hey Lourdes: nice hustle man). This was all very cheering, because Ross Stripling, who is doing everything you could ask of him and arguably more, had been tagged for three in the bottom of the third (we were not upset about it, to be clear). Then with two outs in the fourth, the Blue Jays pulled even with back-to-back home runs (!) from Santiago Espinal (!!) and Bradley Zimmer (!!!), just like you would draw it up were you to take even the most cursory glance at the Blue Jays lineup. Stripling handed things off to a bullpen of Thornton, Cimber, and Mayza, who combined for four perfect innings (without middle relief, you have nothing), although one must of course credit the defense here pretty hard: Bichette had some nice plays, Espinal was diving all over the place, and Bradley Zimmer ran one down a long way into the weird part of left-center (I really do not care for this ballpark). The Blue Jays infield defense especially, but just their defense overall, has become such a strength, and it was very much on display! This game totally had a tight, playoff feel, and seemed like the game of the year so far even before Vladdy singled to open the ninth and then booked it home on Matt Chapman's double, just tearing around the bases so hard to slide in as the ball was cut off at the mound (somebody tell that man to ease up [except don't]). In Flight Vladdy is maybe my favourite sight to see in all of baseball right now, and aside from the pure joyous spectacle of it all, he is actually an above-average runner according to the tracking data (and he is, you may have noted with your own tracking data, of above-average size). I loved it; Vladdy loved it; everybody loved it. Jordan Romano, who you've got to think is going to mess up a save opportunity eventually (right? like, eventually?), had another ticklesque ninth inning (two singles meant Astros on the corners with one out, tying run at third), but struck out Jason Castro and pinch-hitting rookie J. J. Matijevic to end the game. I felt for Matijevic: this was his first MLB plate appearance, and he sees two 98MPH fastballs just off the corners, and chases another way up out of the zone to end the game. I saw that Dusty Baker was taking a little bit of heat for that move after the game but I definitely like Dusty Baker more than I like anybody who has any ill to speak of Dusty Baker, so I was unfazed (don't worry).

KS