2016 Junior League Championship Series: Game 2, Blue Jays @ Indians

It all comes down to 1 Inning, the 6th. Estrada threw what was his worst pitch of the night an 0 – 2 changeup that hung in the zone and was properly punished for it. At that he pitched a complete game while Kluber was pulled after 6 and 1/3rd.

None of that excuses the ineffectiveness of the Blue Jays’ (92 – 74) bats. They had plenty of opportunities to score and blew every one of them. Hitting usually straightens itself out and the Blue Jays better hope for that today.

Yesterday’s Game

Bottom 6th- Walk. 2 RBI HR. Indians 2 – 0 Final.

Indians lead Series 1 – 0

That was quick.

The Indians’ (99 – 67) originally scheduled starter, Trevor Bauer, cut the pinkie finger on his right pitching hand, but is expected to be available for Game 3. Instead the Indians will send Josh Tomlin (R, 13 – 9, 4.40 ERA) to the mound. Tomiln had a win in the Division Series against the Red Sox with 4 Hits for 2 Runs in 5 Innings pitched. He had 1 Walk against 4 Strike Outs and an ERA of 3.60.

The Blue Jays will counter with J.A. Happ (L, 20 – 4, 3.18 ERA). I thought he was pretty good in the Division Championships against the Rangers, but for some reason analysts think Happ struggled in his start and Tomlin pitched great. You couldn’t prove it by the numbers. Happ won his game with 9 Hits and 1 Run in 5 Innings of work. He gave up 1 Walk against 5 Strike Outs and had an ERA of 1.80.

Did they expect he would do better than that? Maybe so as I heard one of the announcers last night say the Blue Jays “had their way” with the supposedly hapless Rangers (best record in the Junior League you know) while the Indians had to face the “powerful line up” of the Red Sox (who had a worse record and a losing streak going into the Playoffs).

I attribute this naked rooting to barely suppressed East Coast-centric Red Sox boosterism. After all, if you beat the “mighty” Sox you must have the best team in Baseball because nothing less could thwart a “team of destiny” in David Ortiz’s final year.