Game Recap

Today on my journey to Bradenton, Florida we saw the Toronto Blue Jays visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Today’s pitching battle was between Yusei Kikuchi and Mitch Keller who each went 3 innings of play without earning a run. Kikuchi didn’t give up a single hit and struck out 2, compared to Keller who struck out 3 and gave up 3 hits in his 3 innings. In the 4th inning, newest bucco Carlos Santana hit a 2 run blast over the right field wall to give the buccos a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 5th the Jays stormed right back after a dropped ball by Canaan Smith-Njigba resulted in a triple off the bat of Rob Brantley, who was then driven home off the bat of Whit Merrifield to tie the ballgame at two. Tyler Heinaman hit a fly ball in the 7th that was dropped and scored a run for the buccos to regain the lead. In the 8th inning the floodgates opened for the buccos. Lolo Sanchez saw the first pitch come his way and hammered it to left field to take a 4-2 lead. Jack Brannigan drew a single followed by a Henry Davis walk. Endy Rodriguez sent one into right field that was dropped by the outfielder to score both Brannigan and Davis. Nick Gonzales then drove home Rodriguez with a double of his own to make it a 7-2 ballgame. That would remain the score throughout the rest of the game as the Pirates surged in the latter half of the game to win this one. Watch a quick game recap below:

3 Standouts in the game

#1. Lolo Sanchez: I said in my prospect review that he needed to get going and he looked incredible here today with that home run. 

#2: Jack Brannigan: The young prospect came in and looked like a proven MLB player right off the bat making routine everyday throws and hitting the ball well in his plate appearances.

#3: Nick Gonzales: He’s looking more and more like the prospect he was set out to be when the bucs drafted him, a great hitter, and even better fielder. 

Takeaways from today

The crowd was electric (especially when a certain 22 came to the plate) and it was from both the Blue Jays fan base and the Pirates fan base. I love the spring training atmosphere and the players and people do as well. Also, we got to see a batter called strike three on them for not being set in the batter’s box but the players are slowly adapting to this change. 

We will be back at again Thursday as the Pirates host the Detroit Tigers.