Go BCC Blue Jays!: Blue Jays do it Again!

Rematches can be tricky, especially for the team that wins the initial contest. It's easy to rest on your laurels and assume that Game #2 will be just like Game #1.

Let's give the Blue Jays credit for not letting their guard down for the second game with the Rockies in two weeks!

In a virtual carbon copy of the first meeting, the Blue Jays escaped with a 12-7 victory in the rematch on Sunday, October 4 at Fleming Park.

October 4 Game Report

Milen Hukmani provided veteran leadership and production. His 2-for-2 day included a double to left field and a single to center field, a walk, one run scored, and three RBI. Defensively, Milen collected the first of the Blue Jays' two infield assists when he scooped up a grounder at 2nd base and delivered a good throw to 1st to complete the first out of the game.

Casper Larosch continued to excel in his rookie season, coming through in the clutch to tie for the team lead with three RBI. Making the most of two trips to the plate, Casper doubled with the bases loaded in the second inning and singled with the bags juiced in the fourth. He also scored a run and played well at 3rd base.

Seamus Bain impressed the coach when he fearlessly volunteered to play primarily at catcher this season. The choice could pay hefty dividends; good catchers are ALWAYS in demand! And Seamus is becoming a good catcher, moving up toward the hitter, giving his pitchers a good target at the knees, and catching pitches with increased frequency. Seamus also contributed at the plate, drawing two walks and scoring two runs.

Vinny Guo put out the fire for the Blue Jays in the top of the first inning. Taking over on the mound with one out and the bases loaded, Vinny snuffed the Rockies' rally by inducing the first batter to hit into a 4-3 groundout and striking out the next batter to end the inning with no further damage. He then struck out three in a scoreless top of the second. Vinny proved to be a productive out at the plate, collecting RBI on two consecutive groundouts and walking to drive in another run in the Blue Jays' decisive fourth inning rally.

Sebastian Bloomberg fought his way through a bases-loaded jam to limit the damage and keep his team in the game. He overcame four walks by striking out two of the last three Rockies he faced in the top of the third. Sebastian then pitched a relatively uneventful fourth inning, allowing just one more run and striking out three. He chipped in offensively with a 1-for-2 performance that also included a walk and two runs scored.

Brendan Wang has made tremendous strides in his overall level of play in 2020. Above, he glides to 1st base after ripping a shot to the gap in left center. Making the most of his two plate appearances, Brendan was 1-for-1 with a single, a walk, a run scored, and one RBI. He was warmed up and ready to begin the top of the fifth inning on the mound when the game was called due to the time limit. Look for Brendan to pitch in the next game.

Adam Farber contributed to a solid team batting performance by putting the ball in play in both of his trips to the plate. His groundball to the 1st baseman drove in a run in the bottom of the third inning. Adam also chipped in with the second of two infield assists turned in by the Blue Jays when he fielded a hard grounder and threw accurately to 1st base to notch the first out in the top of the third inning.

Henry Goldstein demonstrated an improved batting eye that paid dividends in the rematch with the Rockies. Avoiding pitches that were out of the strike zone, Henry walked and scored in the the second and fourth innings. He also made a nice play in center field, gobbling up the Rockies' best hit of the day and quickly returning the ball to the infield to hold the batter to a single.

In a characteristically solid defensive performance, Reto Lamparter hauled in a throw from the 2nd baseman to complete an assisted put-out to begin the top half of the third inning. Then, in the bottom half of the frame, Reto hit the ball hard and reached on a fielder's choice.

One of three Blue Jays to not have an official at bat, Noah Solovey nevertheless put together an efficient performance at the plate. He fouled off good pitches and drew rally-extending walks in the second and fourth innings. Noah also played heads-up baseball in right field, stopping a grounder and returning the ball to the infield to hold the runner to a single.

Despite suffering through a hard-luck day at the plate, Brody Gottfried served notice that he plans to be a dangerous threat this season. His well hit line drive up the middle looked like a rally-starter in the bottom of the second until the pitcher stuck out his glove and made a look-what-I-found catch. Brody was slated to play at 2nd base in the fifth and sixth innings but was cheated out of the opportunity by the time limit. Having looked good at the position in practice, Brody will get his shot at the keystone next week.

If there was ever a doubt that Jacob Carle is a baseball player, he erased it at Fleming Park on Sunday. Baseball players find ways to contribute when things don't go their way. Starting the game on the mound, Jacob discovered that he didn't have his best stuff. That happens to every pitcher, including the reigning World Series MVP. Jacob sparked the Blue Jays offensively, generating a 1-for-1 day at the plate with a single, two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. He was slated to play shortstop in the fifth and sixth but lost out to the time limit. Look for him there next week!

Clark Roggie didn't have his best day but still managed to contribute to the Blue Jays' victorious effort. His 2-for-3 day at the plate included a couple of solid base hits, a run scored and one RBI. Defensively, Clark caught a throw from the 2nd baseman to complete an out at 1st base and then handled a grounder unassisted at 1st in the top of the first inning.