logo
Blue Jays blew another late lead in 3-2 loss to the Mets
alt
Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Sep 9, 2024, 22:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 9, 2024, 22:25 EDT
Comments
Thankfully, the rest of this season doesn’t matter.
On Monday evening, the Toronto Blue Jays hosted the New York Mets for the first of three-game, losing 3-2 to the National League East team.
In the top of the fourth, the Mets took a 1-0 lead thanks to a single from J.D. Martinez, with the game holding firm until the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Leo Jiménez was hit by a pitch, getting an RBI the hard way. Immediately after, Nathan Lukes hit a sacrifice fly to give Toronto the 2-1 lead.
It wasn’t meant to be though, as not one, but two runs were scored by the Mets in the top of the eighth via a wild pitch. Catching on one knee is effective in most cases, but with a runner on third, it should never happen. Jiménez hit a deep fly out that went 341 feet, but was caught up against the wall, ending the game.

Diving into the stats…

Let’s talk about Leo Jiménez for a second. The 23-year-old shortstop is a professional ball magnet, quite simply. This season, he’s already been hit by a pitch 12 times in just 169 plate appearances. For context, George Springer, Justin Turner, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Cavan Biggio are tied for second with six. That doesn’t include an additional 15 times being hit with a pitch in Triple-A this year.
Back in 2021 when I first started covering the Blue Jays and their prospects, Jiménez put up an absurd slash line of .315/.517/.381 with a homer in 242 plate appearances, including a 21.5 BB% and 21 hit by pitches in Single-A. It’s one way to get on base.
Sticking with the bats, they only had four hits in the game. Spencer Horwitz hit his 17th double of the season, while Ernie Clement had two singles in two plate appearances. Alejandro Kirk was the other player with a hit, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Will Wagner each walked once.
It was a bullpen day for the Blue Jays. Ryan Burr started the game, pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Luis Frías had a much better game, striking out two in an inning and a third. Their long-man, Ryan Yarbrough, allowed an earned run and two walks, but struck out two in three and two thirds innings. Tommy Nance was tagged with the blown save and loss, giving up two runs (one earned) and walking and striking out two in an inning of work. Erik Swanson pitched a scoreless inning.
The Jays continue the three-game series on Tuesday at 7:07 PM ET, as Chris Bassitt is expected to get the ball against the Mets’ David Peterson.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Featured

News

Breaking News