Blue Jays Series: A Recap From Houston, Nate Pearson Makes Season Debut

Blue Jays Series: Game One

The Blue Jays series got off to a rough start in all aspects of the game, right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling got the start in game on and it was not his day. The Blue Jays would get on the board first putting up one run in the first inning of the game, Toronto would surrender three runs to the Houston Astros in the second inning. The Blue Jays cut the 3-1 deficit in half in the third inning making it 3-2 before the Astros bats took over. Ross Stripling would only last 3 2/3 innings in this game, giving up six hits, three runs, and one home run, he was able to rack up three strikeouts in his short start on Friday night.

The Houston Astros would take control and never looked back, they tallied ten runs on 15 hits versus the Blue Jays and took the first of three games handily. Toronto dropped to one game above .500 following the loss and was unable to extend their winning streak to three for the second time in the 2021 MLB season.

Game Two

The Blue Jays series continued on Saturday night as the Blue Jays looked for redemption after an ugly loss the night before, they certainly put on a show, lead by Cavan Biggio, Danny Jansen, and Randal Grichuk. Left-handed pitcher Steven Matz was on the mound for Toronto and looking to get back in the win column following two straight losses after starting the season 4-0. The Blue Jays were out hit in the second game, but they managed to tack on more runs than Houston.

Toronto opened the scoring once again, scoring two runs in the second inning and then tacked on three more runs in the third inning. Steven Matz was doing his part as he threw three scoreless innings before giving up three runs over two innings, he was taken out of the game after the fifth inning with a 5-3 lead for Toronto, Matz gave up 8 hits, 3 runs, and one home run while striking out four batters on route to his fifth win of the season.

Toronto would add to their lead late in the game as Marcus Semien hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning pushing the Blue Jays lead to 8-4. Danny Jansen kept his homerun streak going hitting his third in as many games, Cavan Biggio also homered in a special moment as his dad Craig Biggio was in attendance watching his son hit home runs in front of the team he used to play for.

Game Three

The Toronto Blue Jays looking to take the series over the Houston Astros and Toronto announcing a couple of hours before game time that top pitching prospect Nate Pearson would be activated and would get the start in the rubber match against Houston. Nate Pearson has been out of the lineup since mid-way through spring training and after a successful conditioning stint in triple-A, the Blue Jays welcomed him back.

Unfortunately, for Nate Pearson, it was not the 2021 season debut he had hoped for as he only lasted 2 1/3 inning giving up five walks before being removed. The game didn"t get any better for the Blue Jays, they gave up seven runs in four innings, however, they would respond sparked by a Rowdy Tellez solo homerun, Toronto would go on to add three more runs in the fifth inning making it a ball game heading to the sixth inning. That"s as close as the Blue Jays would get in the series finale as they lose 7-4 to the Astros.

The Toronto Blue Jays will head straight to Atlanta from Houston as they get set for a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. The last time these two teams met the Blue Jays earned their first series sweep of 2021, looking to repeat that result in Atlanta. The series will begin on Tuesday, May 11th, 2021, the first pitch of game one is scheduled for 7:20 PM Eastern Time, right-handed pitcher Robbie Ray is executed to get the start versus the Braves in game one.

Game two of the Blue Jays series versus the Braves will be Wednesday, May 12th, 2021, the first pitch is scheduled for 7:20 PM Eastern Time, Blue Jays ace Hyun-Jin Ryu is expected to get the start in the second game against Atlanta. Game three and the series finale will be on Thursday, May 13th, 2021, the first pitch is scheduled for 12:20 PM Eastern Time. The Blue Jays coaching staff will have to decide who the starting pitcher in the series finale will be, it could be Nate Pearson or Steven Matz depending on how they feel about Nate Pearson after his season debut versus Houston.

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