The Toronto Blue Jays may be allergic to sweeps.
On Sunday afternoon, they played the final game of the series against the San Diego Padres, falling 6-3 to the team that plays in a satellite town of the Dodgers. This loss brings their record to 12-9, which is still solid all things considered.
San Diego jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but this was quickly answered in the top of the second as Davis Schneider hit his third home run of the season. There is no reason he shouldn’t be in the lineup every day.
Babe Blast 👨🏻💪 pic.twitter.com/0J4LKDNFyX
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 21, 2024
In the top of the third, his roommate Ernie Clement hit his second home run of the season, giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead. It was the first time the two friends had homered in the same big league game.
Big Ern' Big Fly ‼️ pic.twitter.com/oGUSCYQAdK
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 21, 2024
However, the Padres would answer right back in the bottom of the third, as Xander Bogaerts hit a solo home run to make it a 2-2 game. The score held for a while.
Bogey goes BOOM ‼️ pic.twitter.com/wFcmVkDz3C
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 21, 2024
Chris Bassitt allowed a hit and gave up a walk before Trevor Richards came in. Richards walked two batters, which allowed the Padres to take the lead. It looked as if they’d get out of it only giving up one run, but Danny Jansen interfered with Tyler Wade’s swing, making it a 4-2 game.
That catcher’s interference hurt, as the Blue Jays had runners on second and third with one out in the following half inning, as Davis Schneider grounded out to drive in a run, his second of the game.
The Padres would score a few more runs in the bottom of the eighth, putting this game out of reach.
Things worth mentioning…
Chris Bassitt was solid in this game, finishing with a line of 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER (4 R), 3 BB, 4 K with a home run given up, bringing his season ERA to 4.23. In another universe, John Schneider allows him to get out of it and Bassitt picks up a quality start. However, that is not in this universe.
Chris Bassitt's 2Ks in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/YIcFnOwaPb
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 21, 2024
The Trevor Richards Experience™ was in full show on Sunday, as he walked in a run before Jansen’s fateful error that led to the game-winning run. He finished with a line of 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K to bring his season ERA down from 4.15 to 3.60.
It's the Trevor Richards Experience™.
1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, drops his season ERA from 4.15 to 3.60. pic.twitter.com/UVz7dxEhEq
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) April 21, 2024
Nate Pearson allowed his first runs of the season, finishing with a line of 1.1 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, to bring his season ERA to 2.35. The command and control was wild, and he didn’t look like he had in his prior outings.
Bo Bichette was the only Blue Jay with a multi-hit game, while George Springer and Daulton Varsho picked up the only two other hits that weren’t mentioned. Springer was also robbed of an extra-base hit by Fernando Tatís Jr.
Up next: The Blue Jays head to Kansas City, Missouri, to face the Kansas City Royals at 7:40 PM ET on Monday. It’ll be a three-game series, with Yusei Kikuchi toeing the rubber on Monday. Kevin Gausman and Yariel Rodríguez will start the other games for the Blue Jays.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.