Series Recap: Blue Jays lose fourth consecutive series

The Toronto Blue Jays series loss is likely the one that solidifies them as sellers.

It hasn’t necessarily been a secret that they’ve been trending toward selling, especially after dropping three of four to the Tampa Bay Rays, but another series loss, this time to the Boston Red Sox, solidified them as sellers in at least some capacity.

On Friday, the Blue Jays had the bases loaded with two outs, but Davis Schneider struck out looking. Leading off the bottom of the first was Anthony Seigler, who took Trey Yesavage deep for a 1-0 lead. Then in the bottom of the third, Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run home run, as Yesavage finished just four innings with nine strikeouts and three earned runs allowed.

Their hole got even deeper in the bottom of the sixth when Andruw Monasterio hit a sacrifice fly with one out and the bases loaded. Thankfully, that’s the lone run the Red Sox got in that inning, which set up the Jays to claw back into the game.

In the top of the seventh with two on, Kazuma Okamoto hit a three-run home run, his team-leading (and it isn’t particularly close) 23rd home run. With runners on the corners and no outs in the top of the eighth, Andrés Giménez hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, but that’s all the Jays got in the inning.

Failing to cash in the runner from first turned out to be the decisive moment of the game, as John Schneider turned to CJ Van Eyk for the bottom of the eighth. This move was because of an exhausted bullpen, and the rookie gave up two earned runs in high-leverage, with the Jays losing this one 6-4.

That exhausted bullpen got a rest on Saturday, as Dylan Cease hurled a gem. Despite a decrease in velocity, at least to start the game, Cease pitched a complete game shutout, giving up just one hit and three walks while striking out 12. It was the second time he carried a no-hitter into at least the sixth inning in his past three starts.

The Jays didn’t even need this good of a pitching performance, a rare change of pace. They started a two-out rally in the third inning, beginning with a Nathan Lukes double. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cashed him in with an RBI single, and after another single, George Springer hit a three-run shot.

But it got even better. Now with the bases cleared, Varsho kept the rally alive thanks to a single. He was driven in thanks to Ernie Clement’s 24th double of the season. Another RBI single courtesy of Guerrero Jr. in the top of the ninth gave the Blue Jays a 6-0 win.

Throughout the season, us fans and the team have been waiting for the moment to turn around the season. Unfortunately, Saturday’s game was not that, as Sunday’s game happened. 

In what could be Kevin Gausman’s final start as a Blue Jay, he surrendered an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to get the Red Sox on the board. The following inning, Jarren Duran hit an RBI single to put them up 3-0. Overall, Gausman finished with a line of 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.

In the end, it wouldn’t have even mattered as the Jays just failed to get the big hit once again. They finished with nine, as Alejandro Kirk, Springer, and Giménez each had two or more hits, but they ended up going 1-7 with runners in scoring position. Their lone run came in the top of the ninth, when they were down 6-0.

Those three extra Red Sox runs came in the bottom of the seventh. Braydon Fisher gave up a hit, a walk, and a sacrifice bunt before being replaced by Brendon Little. It went as expected, with the Jays ultimately falling 6-1.

The Jays  remain on the road to begin the week, facing the Washington Nationals on Monday at 6:45 PM ET. Max Scherzer is set to make the start on his 42nd birthday, against the team he’ll likely represent when he enters the Hall of Fame. Tuesday’s game has the same start time, Wednesday’s getaway game begin at 1:05 PM ET.