Series Recap: Blue Jays sweep Nationals just like we all expected
By Cam Lewis
5 years agoBefore this weekend’s series, I said this: “This could be ugly. If the team can’t barrel up the ball when *checks notes* Matt Andriese is pitching, they’re going to be grinded into paste by Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez, and Tanner Roark. Are you excited yet?!?!!?”
Well, good thing You Can’t Predict Baseball.
What happened?
On Friday, a solid start by Aaron Sanchez backed up by the bats going off on Gio Gonzalez powered the Jays to a win. A two-run bomb by Devon Travis in the seventh inning gave the Jays the lead and the bullpen was able to hang on. 6-5 Blue Jays.
On Saturday, Marco Estrada was excellent, out-duelling Max Scherzer with six-and-two-thirds shutout innings. A two-run homer by Devon Travis is all the Jays needed in this one as Estrada and the ‘pen totally shut down Washington’s lineup. 2-0 Blue Jays.
On Sunday, we witnessed a back-and-forth affair as the the teams combined for 28 hits. Both Tanner Roark and Sammy G only lasted four innings, but Toronto’s ‘pen was able to outlast Washington’s relievers. A pair of back-to-back bombs by Yangervis Solarte and Teoscar Hernandez in the ninth pushed the Jays to the win. 8-6 Blue Jays.
Things worth mentioning…
- It was great to see Devon Travis have himself a series. He went 6-for-10 with a couple of key bombs that helped the Jays win Friday and Saturday’s games. After a horrendous start to the season, Travis has looked much, much better at the plate since his return from Triple-A.
- Same goes for Randal Grichuk who’s looking like the player the Jays figured they were going to get when they acquired him this winter. Grichuk hit a couple of bombs on Sunday’s game and worked a bases loaded walk. His OPS is all the way up to .705 now, which is great given the fact is hovered around .500 when he went on the DL.
- Marco Estrada had maybe his best start of the season against his former team on Saturday. Nobody expected him to out-duel Max Scherzer, but hey, we’ll take it. A few more starts like that will go a long way in increasing his trade value heading up to the deadline.
Up next…
The Jays will have an off-day before playing a two-game mini series with the Braves at home on Tuesday and Wednesday. After that, they’ll hit the road for a key four-game series against the Angels in Anaheim.
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