Bauer tosses 7.2 scoreless innings, but Justin Smoak walks it off in tenth for Blue Jays to win 2-1

Cleveland Indians twenty-eight-old-right handed hurler, Trevor Bauer, winds to deliver a pitch in the first frame during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Photo by Vaughn Ridley, Getty Images.

Jack Butler jbutle58@lakers.mercyhurst.edu

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Canada – For the past three weeks or so there have been trade talks for Indians starter Trevor Bauer (9-7, 3.49 ERA). Most of them have been rumors but with Cleveland going 29-12 since June 4 and gaining 8.5 games on front running Minnesota might make them buyers rather than sellers. With only seven days until the busiest day on the baseball calendar, the trade deadline, moves will be made and discover where Bauer and other players will be headed. Bauer left his play all on the field Tuesday night in Toronto, wearing his emotions over his entire face for the whole baseball world to see.

Opposing Bauer was the Blue Jays twenty-seven-year-old right-hander, Aaron Sanchez (3-14, 6.06 ERA), leading MLB in loses with 14. Sanchez put those numbers behind him and pitched a solid game, looking like the same hurler who won 15 games and the ERA title (3.00) in 2016. The Indians would get to the righty in the top of the third when utility outfielder, Gregory Allen laced a double, sending Francisco Lindor to the plate. “Mr. Smile” lined a hard ball on the carpet eating Cavan Biggio, son of Hall of Famer, Craig Biggio at second, plating the speedy Allen. For the next two innings, Sanchez and Bauer threw scoreless baseball and the Tribe wasted opportunities to add to the lead in the fourth and fifth.

Sanchez faced the heart of the Indians order, Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, and José Ramírez in the fourth. Santana led off with a double, Kipnis advanced him to third, having two chances to bring in another run. However, Ramírez did not get the fly ball, but a pop up and Roberto Pérez lined out to Justin Smoke at first, ending the rally. The same situation happened again in the fifth during Sanchez’s final frame on the rubber. Lindor and rookie center fielder, Oscar Mercado reached on back to back two out hits, a single and a double. Once again, the Tribe two-out clutch hitting, which has been a crucial component to an incredible resurgence and winning 8 of 10, was nonexistent.

Bauer entered the fifth throwing a no-hitter until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached on a lead off double, but escaped the jam, keeping the score at 1-0. The Blue Jay bullpen pitched the rest of the game, limiting Indians batters to only one hit in five innings of work. Joe Biagini (3-1, 3.52 ERA) worked a scoreless sixth and seventh, striking out two, not allowing a hit. Former Tampa bench coach, now first year Manager in Toronto, Charlie Montoyo inserted Daniel Hudson (5-2, 2.80 ERA) to pitch the next frame. Hudson retired the top of the lineup card, Lindor, Mercado, and Santana. Influential righty, Bauer came back to the hill to deliver another dominate inning, but got in trouble, resulting in Tito going to Oliver Pérez. Teoscar Hernandez led off with a base nock, then Bauer got Billy McKinney to strike out. With one out, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. pinch hit for Luke Maile, lacing a hit to right. Hernandez tried to score from second, however Tyler Naquin relayed it to Santana and Pérez nabbed him at the dish. Montoyo challenged the call at the plate, which was upheld, and Bauer exited while Pérez came in to hold the lead.

The elder statesman, Pérez sent down the only hitter he faced, sending this pitchers duel to the ever important ninth.

David Phelps shut down the Indians in the ninth, then usually reliable closer Brad Hand (4-3, 2.55 ERA) to earn the save. Hand got Freddy Galvis ground to Lindor and one pitch made this game tied when Justin Smoak drilled a ball to center. The closer retired another Blue Jay, unfortunately, it was a little too late as Francona replaced him with Adam Cimber (5-2. 2.77 ERA, to extend the contest.

This ball game did not last any longer when the Indians field to score in the tenth and a pitching change proved costly. Cimber sent down the first two Blue Jays in home half of the extra frame, then Tito brought in lefty specialist Tyler Oslon (1-1, 4.00 ERA). The first two hitters reached off Olson, via a hit and free pass. Smoak lined a ball past a diving Ramírez, sending the home faithful happy immediately as Eric Sogard touched home plate.

The Indians finally lost a game to Toronto after beginning the season series, 5-0, doing it in heartbreaking fashion. Bauer was not the reason the Tribe lost as he dominated the Blue Jays for 7.2 three-hit-scoreless innings, striking out 9 and walking 3. A lack of run support and usually strong bullpen having a rough evening resulted in Toronto winning. The bullpen went 2 innings, yielding 5 hits, 1 walk, a wild pitch and 2 runs.

In a season where the Blue Jays have no chance of winning the American League East, there were all similes for the win of the year for them, a walk off single in the tenth.

These two teams duel it out for final time in 2019 tomorrow at the Rogers Center in Toronto. All-Star game MVP, Shane Bieber (9-3, 3.69) will take the ball for the Indians and Marcus Stroman (6-10, 3.06), possibly making his last start in a Blue Jays uniform. First pitch is tabbed for 7:07, SportsTime Ohio, WTAM, and WMMS will carry the game.