Toronto Road Trip: Shohei Goes Hitless but the Boys Kept Fighting
Ohtani went 0-for-5 but reached base twice via a walk and HBP. Freeman, Teoscar, and Smith drove in runs to grab a lead, but the Jays stormed back in the 7th for a heartbreaking comeback win. Tough loss, but the lineup showed some fight!
Highlights
- Freeman's game-tying RBI single (4th inning)
- Teoscar's sac fly and Smith's RBI hit to grab the lead
- Springer's double and Varsho's RBI hit spark a 7th-inning comeback for the Jays
Man, This One Hurts!!
Toronto road trip, game one — lose 3-4 on a comeback. I literally yelled "NO WAY!" at my TV screen.
Breaking Down Shohei's At-Bats
Honestly, Shohei just couldn't find the barrel today. 0-for-5 at the plate. But hear me out — look at the content of those at-bats.
First inning, Cease came out with zero command, throwing 3 balls on 4 fastballs. Shohei read it perfectly and took a walk to get on base. That's what I'm talking about — don't swing at junk. That's growth right there.
The strikeout in the 3rd... look, when a guy pounds a 99 mph heater right on the inside corner at a full count, what can you do? After getting your eyes scrambled with changeups and sliders, that fastball is just brutal — even in a hitter's count.
5th inning — hit by pitch. A 92 mph slider caught him and my heart stopped for a second. Thank god he was okay... Seriously Cease, watch it with that stuff.
The grounder in the 7th was a bit frustrating. He jumped on the first-pitch sweeper and rolled over it — 81.9 mph exit velo, minus-15 degree launch angle. Total dribbler. He got out in front and hooked it. But the reliever's stuff was moving, so what are you gonna do.
9th inning — caught looking on Hoffman's 97 mph sinker. That pitch was just nasty. When a closer brings that heat in the final frame, yeah, that's a tough ask for anyone.
How the Team Fought
But hey, the lineup really battled today!
Freeman delivered a clutch RBI single in the 4th to tie it up, then Teoscar hit a sac fly in the 6th to take the lead. In the 7th, Will Smith ripped an RBI hit to make it a 2-run lead! I was screaming "HOLD ON AND CLOSE THIS OUT!" and then...
Bottom of the 7th. Springer rips a double, Varsho comes through with an RBI hit... and just like that, it's tied. Are you kidding me? Giving up runs with a lead like that is just killer.
But hey, days like this happen. Shohei didn't get a hit, sure, but he still reached base twice on a walk and an HBP, and the team put up 3 runs. The bats aren't dead.
Next game, boys! Time to get payback in Toronto, Shohei!