The Flu-Game

 Here I was thinking that the Jays Dodgers series was going to be boring as a Jays fan. The first 2 games certainly were, it was looking like I'd have to hop on here and try and claim the Jays aren't frauds, which woulda been tough. Then came yesterday and we got what might end up being the game of the season. Thank goodness, I have something to write about today! Everyone on earth who covers the Jays is going to be talking about this game, but it's easy so lets hop on too. Skip to the last section if you want just the recap of the fun stuff, though I thought it was fun to set up why the ending needed to happen by giving the context of the first 7 innings. 

Tough One for Lauer, Great One for Middle Relievers

I guess I should start at the beginning of the game. Eric Lauer, who has been awesome all season, didn't really have it to start this one. After Guerrero doubled to score a Bichette walk in the first inning, Lauer gave up homers to Ohtani and Freeman in the bottom half to give the lead right back. In the second, Lauer gave up a leadoff double, they then intentionally walk Ohtani, Betts hits a bloop single to load the bases then with 2 outs Lauer walks Freeman with the bases loaded to allow another Dodgers run, a theme of this game. He ended up with a fairly clean third inning but after throwing 71 pitches in the first 3, Lauer was already knocked out of the game. An unfortunate start for Lauer, but they happen. Coming into this game in 80 innings Lauer had only allowed 18 walks. It was a large reason why he'd been so effective this season, his command was on point and he came right at batters. Whether it was just an off night or it was the Dodgers scary lineup, Lauer had 4 walks in this one and it was his undoing. Luckily for the Jays by the time they pulled him the game was still within reach, only 3-1. 

The bullpen came in and really held things down for the Jays. One weakness the Jays have is they don't really have a long reliever in their pen for games like this when the starter gets knocked out in the 3rd but they still have a shot. Because of this, they needed to piece together 6 innings using a bunch of guys, which definitely comes back later in this game. Newcomer Louis Varland came in and had a good inning in the 4th, then got 2 outs in the 5th before allowing a single and getting pulled for Brayden Fisher. Fisher walked a guy but then got a strikeout to get out of the 5th. Top of the 6th and the Jays small balled themselves another run to make it 3-2. The Jays bring in Seranthony Dominguez for the 6th, he gets a strikeout but then allows a single to Ohtani who felt like he was coming up every single inning at this point. After getting another out Dominguez walks Will Smith to bring up Freddie Freeman in a big spot with 2 outs and runners on first and second. The Jays now bring in Brendon Little and for some strange reason the Dodgers attempt a double steal, Ohtani is thrown out at 3rd to end the inning and the threat is neutralized. Little comes back out for the 7th and pitches a clean inning. The Jays pen so far has come through in relief of Eric Lauer, although they did have to use 4 arms on top of Lauer to get through 7. 

Sorry Vlad

Ok I'll be the first to admit that I've been hard on Vlad Guerrero Jr. In my most recent post I compared him to my least favorite The Weeknd album. I have to say though after the concert the new album is growing on me, crazy that happens right as Vlad does this. Top of the 8th with the Jays down 1 trying to avoid the sweep, you need your stars to come through. I have been critical in the past of Vlad not coming through in these exact situations, with everything on the line, yesterday he shut me up. After Bichette strikes out to lead off the inning, Vlad takes a ball to deep center field and ties the game at 3, super clutch hit that got me out of my seat. Immediately after Addison Barger hits a bomb to take the lead. Now I'm hyped too because despite using 4 relievers already the Jays still had Yariel Rodriguez and Jeff Hoffman available to close out the 8th and 9th. Vlad man, sorry for all the hate! You came through, that was clutch.

Wild Finish

Just like I thought Yariel Rodriguez comes in for the 8th in a 1 run ballgame with Ohtani scheduled as the 3rd hitter. They mentioned this on the broadcast like 50 times this series, but seriously it felt like Ohtani was hitting every single inning in this game it was insane. Rodriguez walks the number 8 hitter which sets up a sacrifice bunt by the 9 hitter to get a runner in scoring position for Shohei. Of course the Jays intentionally walk Ohtani with a base open to bring up Mookie Betts. Rodriguez strikes out Betts to make it 2 outs and the Jays decide they're not messing around, time to bring in the closer Jeff Hoffman to face Will Smith. Hoffman in the most frustrating appearance ever, cannot throw a strike to save his life. He walks Smith to load the bases and really get hearts pumping. He then walks Freddie Freeman to walk in a run, the second run walked in by a Jays pitcher in this game, disgusting. The game's now tied at 4. Hoffman can't find the zone again against Conforto and he quickly falls behind 3-0. He gets a very generous call for strike 1 then on the next pitch Conforto luckily pops it a mile into the air, Kirk catches it and the inning is somehow over. 

The top of the 9th with the game now tied, Ernie Clement hits a lead off home run to save the day for the Jays and give them the lead back, shout out Ernie man. The Jays manage nothing else but they head into the bottom of the 9th with the lead. Here's the issue, clearly Hoffman doesn't have it, he just narrowly avoided walking in 2 runs an inning before. The Jays though had already used all of their reliable arms to get to this point because Lauer had a rough start. If Rodriguez, Varland, Dominguez or Little were available I'd totally be all for pulling Hoffman and getting one of those guys in to close it out, but they weren't and the manager trusts his closer. Hoffman comes in again and once again just can't throw a strike to save his life. He walks the #6 hitter on 5 pitches, then does the same for the #7 hitter. The Dodgers questionably decide to sacrifice bunt here. I get that down 1 run in the 9th with runners on first and second and nobody out with your 8 hitter up is like the ideal moment to bunt, but are you seeing what I'm seeing? Hoffman can't throw a strike man! The Dodgers gift the Jays that out only for Hoffman to walk the #9 hitter on 4 pitches to load the bases, and bring up Ohtani with 1 out. 

At this point, the Jays have no choice but to pull Jeff Hoffman. He threw 33 pitches and 23 of them were balls, he just didn't have it at all. Having used everyone else, the only guys left were 23 year old rookie Mason Fluharty or 34 year old AAAA guy Tommy Nance. They opt to go with Fluharty despite his >5 ERA, to face Shohei Ohtani with the bases loaded and 1 out. Fluharty absolutely battles Ohtani, with my heart pumping out of my chest too so I can only imagine his nerves were off the charts. He gets ahead 1-2, then misses with a sweeper 2-2, Ohtani fouls off a great pitch then Fluharty doesn't get a call on a pitch high that Shohei offers at but they somehow inexplicably call it a check swing. The count's now full with the bases loaded in a 1 run game in the bottom of the 9th with the best player in baseball against a rookie. Ohtani fouls off 2 more pitches before Fluharty throws a ballsy sweeper low that Ohtani offers at to strike out swinging. HUGE out. The stones it takes to throw that after the Jays already walked in 2 runs in this game is pretty insane, thank goodness it worked. Not out of the woods yet, Fluharty has to face Mookie Betts. On the third pitch of the at bat Mookie hits a grounder to 3rd, Barger throws to second and the Jays escape with a win! My heart is pounding just remembering it. As everyone on social media has already proclaimed, this will always be remembered as the Flu game. Playoff-like atmosphere and vibe to this one I'm so glad I caught the whole thing!

That's that! off day for the Jays so who knows what I'll come up with tomorrow. Love that they made this easy for me. Go Jays!