Series recap: Blue Jays win dramatic rubber match to take series against Twins

One thing that can be said about the Toronto Blue Jays this season is that there’s never a dull moment.

The Blue Jays were able to take two of three from the Minnesota Twins, losing a game they should have won and winning a game that they should have lost. After Wednesday, the Blue Jays maintain a four-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the top spot in the American League East, but let’s take a look at what happened in the series!

On Monday, the Blue Jays scored four runs in the first inning, which was capped off by an Alejandro Kirk two-run shot. Andrés Giménez also hit a home run, and entering the top of the sixth, the Jays had a 6-1 lead. The Twins scored three runs to make it 6-4, but the Jays put up another four-spot, which was capped off by a two-run single by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Tuesday’s game was a frustrating one. George Springer hit two home runs, which gave the Jays a 4-0 lead entering the top of the sixth, with the Twins cutting that lead in half. They added another run to get to within one, and in the top of the ninth, Jeff Hoffman allowed four earned runs. In the bottom of the ninth, the Jays added a run, but ultimately fell 7-5, with both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox gaining a game.

Tuesday’s game was frustrating; Wednesday’s game was wild. The Twins took a 1-0 lead off the bat of Byron Buxton, and the Jays tied it thanks to a Davis Schneider homer. In the third, the Twins took a 3-1 lead, but the Jays stormed back to tie it again. Briefly, the Twins pulled away with a three-run top of the fourth, but Schneider and Giménez each hit a home run. In the top of the fifth, the Twins added two more runs, giving them an 8-6 lead. After a run was scored in the bottom of the sixth by Toronto, the Jays had a massive bottom of the eighth to take a 9-8 lead, the final score of this one.

Returning from injury, Guerrero Jr. had a pretty rough series, slashing .083/.143/.083 with his lone hit being a two-run single. Daulton Varsho shockingly failed to hit a home run and had a -20 wRC+. Although Addison Barger had a -8 wRC+, he didn’t just have the biggest hit of the game, but the biggest hit of the season in the bottom of the eighth. Two bench players, Tyler Heineman and Myles Straw, finished with a wRC+ below 100 (43 and -100, respectively).

Every other player finished with a wRC+ above 100. Ty France hit his first home run as a Blue Jay to kick-start the bottom of the eighth on Wednesday. Bo Bichette batted .417 and finished with a 154 wRC+. Despite breaking his finger and getting stiches on his leg, Clement pulled through and was able to hit .429. Nathan Lukes also had a great series, batting .500 with three doubles.

Schneider had the highest wRC+ of any Blue Jay (539), as he hit two home runs in five plate appearances. Of the regulars, Springer had the best wRC+, slashing .615/.667/1.077 with two home runs in 15 plate appearances for a 377 wRC+. Kirk hit a home run (333 wRC), while Giménez hit two home runs (315 wRC+).

The Jays’ offence was great, but the same can’t be said for the pitching. Of their three starters, Chris Bassitt’s 3.18 ERA was the best, as he gave up two earned runs in five and two-thirds. Max Scherzer went six innings but gave up four earned runs in a win. Eric Lauer had a pretty bad game on Wednesday, giving up eight runs (six earned) in four and two-thirds innings.

Moreover, the bullpen’s struggles continued. The only reliever who didn’t walk a batter was Yariel Rodríguez, who faced one batter. Credit to Tommy Nance and Justin Bruihl, both relievers pitched an inning and a third and didn’t give up a run in Wednesday’s game, keeping the Jays within striking distance.

Seranthony Domíguez walked two batters, but also struck out two as he pitched a scoreless inning in two appearances. Brendon Little pitched well in his inning and two-thirds, walking a batter and striking out a batter.

Louis Varland gave up another run, the fifth consecutive outing a run has been scored. Hoffman blew a save and gave up four earned runs on Tuesday, but got back on track by picking up the save on Wednesday.

The Jays host the Milwaukee Brewers starting on Friday. Entering that game, the Blue Jays have the best record in the American League and the second-best record in baseball, while the Brewers come in with the best record. Thankfully, the Blue Jays have Shane Bieber to counter a tough Brewers team.