2023 Game Thirty-Four: Blue Jays 8, Pirates 2

 

this is a little unusual but thanks everybody

There were enough Blue Jays fans—indeed there seemed to be several thousands of them—at the ballpark in Pittsburgh that José Berrios had no real option other than to low-key tip his cap and acknowledge the crowd beyond the first-base dugout as he walked off with the lead with one away in the seventh. It was weird, but worth seeing! Bass (who is on thin ice), Mayza (who has been quietly excellent thus far), and the Blue-Jays-débuting Jay Jackson took it the rest of the way hitlessly, but this one was never really in doubt after the four-run first and three-run third. Brandon Belt, of all people, had two doubles and two walks, which is the kind of thing I like! Add in some doubles from people you tend to expect them of (Bo, Chapman, Kirk) and you've really got something. Vladdy, alas, was on the bench with that same old "left wrist discomfort," and with an off day Monday, Dan Shulman speculated that they'd probably just give him the Sunday afternoon off, too, and see how he feels Tuesday (sounds good to me). If everybody else keeps hitting like this, let him take the week. Whatever he needs!

KS