Jays Score Six and Win!

Stop me if you have heard this one, but the Jays scored early, 4 runs in the first, and their starter did a very nice job, but they didn't score again and the bullpen had 3.2 innings to cover.

Kevin Gausman was good. I didn't think he was as sharp as we have seen him in the past. But he didn't allow a run, going 5.1 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts. He wasn't very efficient, throwing 112 pitches in the 5.1 innings. It seemed like he went full count with most of the batters he faced.

Brendon Little got the last two outs of the sixth inning and the first one of the seventh, but then he gave up a walk and was out of the game.

Nate Pearson followed. He hit a batter, walked a batter, gave up a sac fly, and a softly hit RBI single. Suddenly, it was a two-run game, and the tying run was at first. He was robbed on one call, which would have helped us.

In comes Tim Mayza, looking for the last out of the inning. He was part of the late-game blow-up yesterday. He got a strikeout to end the inning.

In the first inning, George Springer reached on a throwing error by Nat's third baseman Nick Senzel (errors, official and not, were the theme of the Nationals' day). Daulton Varsho, who I like batting second, walked. Vlad came up next and hit into what looked like a double play, but the shortstop threw wide of first, and Vlad was (barely) safe. Not an official error because baseball rules are dumb, but it was an error. Justin Turner followed with an RBI single.

Bo Bichette moved down in the order today and singled in another run. Then Daniel Vogelbach hit into what should have been another double play, but another bad throw got us our second and third run. Danny Jansen doubled in our fourth run of the inning.

But then we didn't score again until the eighth when it was a two-run game.

Thankfully, Danny Jansen singled in the eighth, and Kevin Kiermaier (who we all knew would be the answer to Jay's offensive troubles) homered, making it a four-run lead again.

Trevor Richards came in for the eighth. He got a comebacker to lead off the inning but threw wide of first. It was raining, and the ball was wet, but you can't do that to Jays fans just waiting for the next bad thing to happen. But a flyout, popout, and strikeout got us out of the inning. Nice job, Trevor.

Jordan Romano got the ninth (in a non-save spot). Ummm, he got our blood pressure up. He started off the inning with a flyout, but that was followed by a walk and a single. A strikeout got us to the last out. But another single brought home a run and brought the tying fun to the plate. Thankfully, a line drive found Daulton Varsho's glove to end it.

Nothing is easy.

The Jays had 9 hits and 3 walks. Varsho and Jansen had 2 each.

The only starters to go 0 for were Daniel Vogelbach (0 for 5, strikeout, RBI) and Cavan Biggio (0 for 4, three strikeouts). He is in a deep, rough patch.

Of note:

• After a strikeout, Bo Bichette was ejected from the game for slamming his helmet to the ground. I'm unsure if it was a reaction to the call or to his (and the teams') season. Honestly, an umpire should have a thicker skin.
• Vlad had a couple of nice plays at first base. One was a nice running over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory down the right-field line. There were two throws, and the first was wide, but Vlad took his foot off the bag, made the catch, and tagged the runner.
• As well as the home run, Kiermaier made some nice catches in center.

Jays of the Day: Gausman (.200 WPA). Vogelbach had a .090, but that was because of the Nationals' error. But let's give one to Jansen (.081). And give one to Mayza (.076). And honourable mention to Kiermaier and Varsho.

Other Award: Pearson (-.140....he was so good before going the Bisons and so bad since). and Biggio (-.072).

Tomorrow, we have a 1:30 Eastern start, with Alek Manoah starting. Lefty MacKenzie Gore (2-3, 3.19) gets a good chance of lowering his ERA.