Bad Start From Bowden, Jays Lose To Twins

Twins 6 Blue Jays 3

Even in a loss, there were some terrific Jays’ moments:

• In the second inning, Vladimir Guerrero caught a line drive hit down the line with two runners on and two outs. He’s having a great series with the glove.
• In the third, also with two out, Alejandro Kirk picked Ty France off first base. It was a big moment, with two runners on base again.
• In the fourth, Byron Buxton ground one down the third base line, hard (97.4 mph). Addison Barger made a great diving spot, bounced up and made a great one-hop throw to first, getting the fast Buxton.
• In the sixth, with the bases loaded, France hit a fly ball to medium center. Myles Straw made the catch, came in on the ball, and made a perfect throw home, getting Carlos Correa trying to score from third. It was a great double play to end the inning.

There was also a bad moment: Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement, each chasing a fly to short right, had a collision (thankfully glancing). Both went down, and Lukes needed a visit from the trainer.

Bowden Francis had nothing today. He fought his way through 3.1 innings, giving up five hits (including two home runs), five walks, two strikeouts, and four earned. He should have come out of the game earlier, but with limited bullpen arms, they needed to get everything they could out of him.

Mason Fluharty took over with one out in the fourth and got out of the inning. But then he gave up a one-out walk and a single in the fifth.

Eric Swanson, who doesn’t look right. Maybe his rehab stint didn’t go long enough? He gave up a double and two walks (the second with the bases loaded. They counted against Fluharty’s ERA.

Braydon Fisher threw two scoreless innings. Paxton Schultz struck out the side, around two singles in the eighth.

On offense we scored:

• One in the second: Ernie Clement had a two-out single, and Alan Roden followed with a double (hopefully that buys him another start).
• Two in the third: Bo walked to start the inning. Vlad reached on a Carlos Correa error. Kirk singled home one, and George Springer doubled home Kirk. We were ahead for a moment.

That was it for our scoring. The Twins would face the minimum until the ninth inning when Lukes singled.

In all, we had just five hits.

No Jays of the Day. Roden had the high mark at .063 WPA.

Other Award: Francis (-.324, 3.1 innings, four earned), Swanson (-.124).

Tomorrow the Jays are in St. Louis. Jose Berrios (2-2, 3.67) vs. Andres Pallante (4-3, 4.91).

They have a tough question about what to do with Francis. There really isn’t anyone in Buffalo who looks any better.

• Spencer Turnbull, who they hoped would be the guy, has a 9.95 ERA in two starts at Buffalo.
• Lazaro Estrada has a 5.06 ERA in 11 starts, averaging just over three innings per start.
• Bring Lucas back? He went 1.2 innings with three earned runs in his last start.
• Adam Macko made his first start at Buffalo after starting the season on the IL. He threw four good innings, but I’d expect they would want him to make two or three more starts before he comes up, just to be careful with that arm.