Blue Jays’ bullpen falters in loss to Phillies
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Author of the article:
Frank Zicarelli 
Blue Jays’ Trent Thornton pitches during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at TD Ballpark on Friday night. Photo by Mike Ehrmann /Getty Images Article content
The pen has received plenty of ink for the Blue Jays this season.
But for one of the few times this season on Friday night, it generated headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Toronto’s relief corps, a source of consistency, failed to do its job after the Jays took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning, a tenuous advantage, but an advantage nonetheless.
The end result was a 5-1 win by the Phillies, which snapped a three-game Toronto win streak after the Jays returned to their den in Dunedin following a sweep in Atlanta.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. provided the Jays’ lone run with a one-out, wind-aided fly ball to right field that barely went over the fence.
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It was Vlad Jr.’s ninth home run of the season, including his fifth at TD Ballpark.
It was also only Toronto’s second hit off Phils starter Vince Velasquez, who did a solid job of keeping the Jays’ bats at bay.
Steven Matz started for the Jays and the lefty did just about everything right to give his team a chance, which is all one can ask.
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He even overcame some questionable calls.
By the time Matz was done for the night, he became the first Blue Jays pitcher this season to reach the 100-pitch count, 107 to be precise, in five innings.
He left in a scoreless game, striking out nine and stranding seven.
Toronto’s offence couldn’t do much of anything to help Matz, who made way for Trent Thornton to begin the sixth inning.
Thornton began the seventh by putting the leadoff hitter on base with a walk. He then struck out two before issuing his second walk.
Thornton was replaced by Tim Mayza, who faced Bryce Harper with two on and two out. Harper walked for the third time on the night as the Phils loaded the bases. J.T. Realmuto worked the count full and walked as the Phillies tied the game without putting a ball in play.
Rhys Hoskins then crushed a double to left centre to clear the bases.
PHIL ER UP
Matz was no stranger to the Phils, going 5-2 against them when he pitched for the Mets.
Philly also saw plenty of Matz in spring training this season when the Jays made the short trip from their base in Dunedin to Clearwater.
For Matz, Friday’s start was his eighth for the Jays, having retired the first eight batters he faced in his previous outing.
He got leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen on a called strike, the first of two Ks in the inning for Matz.
His counterpart, Velasquez, who also struck out the first batter he faced, Marcus Semien. Bo Bichette then reached base on an error when Philly shortstop Nick Matton failed to field a routine grounder. Bichette stole second to run his streak of successful thefts to seven. He advanced to third on a ground out. Velasquez then struck out Teoscar Hernandez to end the inning.
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BORUCKI PLACED ON IL
Ryan Borucki, a key arm in manager Charlie Montoyo’s pen, is experiencing tightness in his left elbow.
“There’s a good chance he’ll be on the IL,’’ said Montoyo of his left-hander during the manager’s pre-game Zoom call.
“He’s going to see the doctor (Friday night), but he’s not feeling great.”
Just before opening pitch, the Jays announced Borucki was indeed going on the injured list because of a left forearm flexor strain, leaving the team one man short for its series opener against the Phils.A roster move is expected Saturday.
Borucki, according to Montoyo, was able to play catch Friday.
Following the Jays’ win over the Braves Thursday, Montoyo said Borucki was dealing with arm fatigue.
PEARSON OF CONCERN
One of these days, the news involving Nate Pearson might actually be encouraging.
For now, every time his name surfaces bad news seems to follow Pearson.
The latest calamity involves his right shoulder.
Montoyo said Pearson and pitching coach Pete Walker were working out together Thursday.
“He (Pearson) told us it was his right shoulder,’’ said Montoyo.
Pearson is dealing with right shoulder impingement, a setback that will prevent the flame-thrower from making his next scheduled start in triple-A with the Bisons.
Pearson, who was optioned to triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, started this season on the injured list with a right adductor strain.
In his lone start with the Blue Jays, Pearson allowed three runs on four hits and five walks over 2.1 innings in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Astros.
The 24-year-old made his big-league debut last July.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
The Jays announced Friday the signing of veteran right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr., 29, to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Buffalo
Edwards has appeared in 200 games and won a World Series in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs.
He began the 2021 season with Atlanta and entered free agency on Monday after the Braves designated Edwards Jr. for assignment.
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