Matz buckles down after early blip to get Jays back on winning track
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Steven Matz didn’t get 22 runs of assist this time, however then, he didn’t want fairly that many both.
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Matz, who was blessed with three or 4 video games value of assist in that earlier begin in Baltimore, blinked first on this one giving up a two-run homer to everybody’s favorite former Blue Jay Josh Donaldson within the first, however was tremendous stingy from that time on incomes his thirteenth win of the season in a 6-2 victory over the visiting Twins.
Persevering, one thing this staff is aware of a complete lot about given their observe document this season, additionally occurs to be a giant a part of Matz’s recreation specifically.
“Being in a gap like that after the primary inning, my mindset is simply make good pitches, put up zeros, strive to not panic and simply proceed to consider executing your pitches,” he stated. “I used to be ready to try this and get into the sixth inning and get the win.”
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From the Donaldson homer, an reverse subject shot with one out within the first, Matz retired 16 of the following 17 Twins earlier than a two out stroll to the aforementioned Donaldson and a single off the bat of Miguel Sano introduced Charlie Montoyo out of the dugout and into his bullpen.
Matz escaped with out additional blemish to his line when Trevor Richards got here on and obtained Brent Rooker to floor out to first.
The emergence of Matz as a constant supply of reliable innings couldn’t be extra well timed with Hyun Jin Ryu struggling together with his command proper now and coming off two quick and forgettable outings.
For the reason that starting of August, Matz has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his 9 begins, going 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA (14 earned runs/50.1 innings pitched) and 42 strikeouts over that span.
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“He has been regular since he got here again from when he was out,” Montoyo stated of Matz. “He has been considered one of our greatest pitchers and he offers us an opportunity each time he goes out. He did the identical factor at present. Gave up that two-run homer early on after which he shut them down. And that’s an excellent lineup. He was fairly good at present.”
Matz picked up his career-best thirteenth win of the season Saturday, tying him with Ryu for the second most within the American League behind chief Gerrit Cole of the Yankees who has 15.
All of the offence Matz would wish, and all he would get whereas he was nonetheless within the recreation, got here within the fourth from the Jays as Twins starter Bailey Ober suffered the same destiny to different starters making an attempt to undergo the Jays order even a second time.
Marcus Semien began it off together with his fortieth dwelling run of the season becoming a member of an unique membership of second basemen to achieve 40 in a season. He provides his identify to a listing that’s restricted to Rogers Hornsby, Davey Johnson, Ryne Sandberg, and Brian Dozier.
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A stroll to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a single by Bo Bichette set issues up for Teoscar Hernandez who hit a towering fly ball that simply saved drifting finally touchdown simply on the opposite aspect of the left subject fence for a three-run homer.
It was the twenty eighth of the 12 months for Hernandez and with three extra RBIs he surpassed Guerrero for the staff lead with 106.
How a man with 106 RBIs might ever be missed, however that speaks to the opposite bats on this star-studded lineup.
“No person talks about him, you understand,” Montoyo stated after the sport. “I assume we’re speaking about him now and currently his identify has come up extra, however since 2019 when he got here again from the minor leagues he has been top-of-the-line hitters in baseball.
“That’s one other man – once I’m speaking about work ethic – he’s one other man who works onerous,” Montoyo stated.
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CHANGE IN THE ’PEN
The Toronto Blue Jays bullpen goes to need to get by for a short time with out Joakim Soria.
The veteran reliever was positioned on the household medical emergency listing by the staff Saturday.
Taking his place might be Anthony Castro who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and activated for Saturday’s recreation.
Soria hasn’t precisely been lighting it up since coming over from Arizona on the commerce deadline.
A finger damage had him scuffling with command and has his ERA sitting at a lofty 5.06 for the season.
Castro is returning to the Jays the place he has already pitched 21 1/3 innings and posting that very same 5.06 ERA that Soria sports activities.
HOMER MANIA
There have been some awfully good dwelling run hitters come by means of Toronto over the previous seven seasons together with a couple of who received’t make this listing as a result of they’re simply beginning to make their marks now.
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However for the reason that begin of the 2015 season, no participant has hit extra dwelling runs at Rogers Centre than Josh Donaldson who continues to bang them out as an opponent.
With two homers this weekend and Sunday’s recreation nonetheless to go, Donaldson has hit 63 dwelling runs within the park previously often known as the SkyDome.
These two homers push him simply forward of Justin Smoak who has 61 homers right here. Following Smoak are Jose Bautista (43),Edwin Encarnacion (38), Randal Grichuk (37) and Teoscar Hernandez with 34.
GAINED SOME GROUND
With the win yesterday the Jays picked up a full recreation on the Yankees who had been overwhelmed in Cleveland whereas the Purple Sox stay a full recreation up on Toronto having defeated Baltimore. Toronto is now a half recreation forward of the Yankees for the second wild card.
mganter@postmedia.com