Redemption

Top of the 5th

Two out, two on for the Dodgers.

Kyle Tucker grounds one up the middle, runner is out at second, inning over. Cody Cease is in control. The paint began to chip in the sixth when the first two batters got on. With two on and none out in the top of the sixth Justin Varland started warming up. Cease was at 90 pitches on the day.

Varland came in with none out and bases loaded. He would only allow a single run in the inning, making it 2-1 for the Dodgers.

Vladdy stepped up in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff double, bringing the crowd to life with his first double of the season. A ground ball to the short stop had Vladdy trying for third. He jumped over the ball as it went past him and was thrown out on arrival at third base. His frustration was visible in the dugout. The inning ended with no runs for the Blue Jays.

Bottom of the 7th

It was 3-1 Dodgers in the bottom of the 7th. Davis Schneider drew a walk and Tyler Heineman broke a base hit past second. Miles Straw entered as pinch runner for Heineman and George Springer stepped to the plate facing one out with two on. First pitch he hit hard and deep for a double bringing Davis Schneider home to cut the Dodger lead to just one run.

Dalton Varsho was the next at bat and was able to drive in the tying run on a base hit. Man on at third and first with Vladdy in the batters box. Vladdy watch the third ball go by when Varsho stole second. Vladdy walked on the next pitch loading the bases for Jesus Sanchez.

Jays entered the day batting 1 for 17 with bases loaded taking 5 strikeouts this season. Sanchez went down swinging for out number two, with Kazuma Okamoto up next. 0-3 on the day to this point he hit the second pitch to third for the easy out. 1 for 19 with bases loaded, 6 strike outs.

8th Inning

Davis Schneider started the 8th with his second walk of the day. With one out Andres Giminez hit a ground ball that advanced Schneider to third. With the next batter up Giminez stole second after the pitch. The Dodgers second baseman missed the catch allowing Davis Schneider to get home. giving the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th.

9th Inning

Jeff Hoffman had a chance to get the save. Entering the day he had 1 save on three opportunities. Ohtani was the first batter he faced and Hoffman struck him out in 4 pitches, sending him to the bench on a fastball.

Kyle Tucker was next, 0-2 on the day with 2 walks. Kyle Tucker dropped a single and Will Smith came to bat with 1 out and 1 on.

Smith stepped up 2-3 on the day with a walk. Hoffman started 2-0 against Smith before getting the benefit of the doubt on a strike high in the zone that went unchallenged. Next pitch was low, ball 3. On his 12th pitch of the side Hoffman hit the second strike. Full count with a man on Hoffman threw inside, walking Smith bringing up Freddie Freeman with 1 out and 2 men on.

Pete Walker came out to speak with his closer. Ball one, ball two, fouled off strike. A second foul ball. 2-2 count and Hoffman strikes Freeman out on a high fast ball.

Ball one to Max Muncy, at the plate 0-2 with 2 walks on the day. Ball hit foul. Groundball hit back toward Hoffman. He scoops it and sends it to Vladdy. Hoffman gets the save, Blue Jays get the win.

Pitching

Cody Cease got the start and made good of his time, striking out 8 in his 5 innings pitched. He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and walked 4, ending the day with 57 strikes on 96 pitches. The only apparent blemish came in the 6th when he loaded the bases and got none out but only one run scored.

Tyler Rogers held his own in the 7th and 8th innings allowing just 1 hit and striking out 2 in with 14 strikes thrown in 20 pitches.