No late-game heroics this time as Blue Jays lose to Brewers

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An old-fashioned pitchers’ duel unfolded Wednesday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee, where the roof sprung a leak.

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The odd backdrop couldn’t dampen a pitch-centric evening when hits were scarce and runs even scarcer. Some fans in attendance had to scurry for a dry area to watch a very competitive game.

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Not many low-scoring affairs are known for their entertainment value, but this one was an exception as the Brewers prevailed 2-1 to snap a six-game losing streak. The host Brewers threw Chad Patrick out there, while the Jays countered with Dylan Cease.

In terms of salaries, Cease finds himself in an entirely different financial neighbourhood than the low-budget Patrick. And yet Patrick went pitch for pitch, his lone run surrendered in the first inning on a sac fly as he gave the Brewers 6 2/3 innings before he was relieved.

Cease went six complete innings to record his longest outing of the young season. The 106 pitches were a season high.

Small-ball factors into decision

With both starters, who combined to yield five hits, no longer in the game, the night was decided by the bullpens.

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The Brewers drew even in the eighth inning on an infield hit and an error to catcher Brandon Valenzuela before an actual hit into right field scored the runner. Milwaukee then took the lead on the inning’s second infield hit with Tyler Rogers the unwitting victim of the odd circumstances.

Given the rain in a closed venue, the low-scoring theme and the lack of hits capped off by the weirdness of the eighth inning when Rogers didn’t exactly give up hard contact, it was a tough loss by the Jays.

The following are three take-aways on Jackie Robinson Day, when the Jays had their ‘pen all lined up until the weirdness of baseball bit them.

1. Reinforcements arriving soon?

While most of the pitching attention zoomed in on Cease, who was making his fourth outing, not to be overlooked was the progression of Trey Yesavage.

No word on when last year’s revelation will join the big-league club, but the right-hander is inching closer. His return may arrive this weekend when the Jays are in Anaheim or it may arrive when the club returns home from its nine-game road trip.

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When he does resurface in the majors, Yesavage will be viewed as a major boost. Wednesday, he completed his rehab start in triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons by pitching into the fifth inning.

The numbers he posted are of little significance. Although the one meaningful number was 71, as in the amount of pitches Yesavage threw, which happened to land in the targeted range.

Where Yesavage goes from here will be mapped out later this week.

A shoulder impingement suffered by Yesavage aborted his start to the season.

Yesavage, Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber and Cody Ponce are each sidelined with various setbacks. Ponce’s knee is the most serious, an injury that will sideline him for the balance of the season.

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2. Taking the lead

Nathan Lukes isn’t new to leading off, having served in that role last year at times when George Springer was unavailable.

Since Springer fractured his big toe in Toronto last Saturday, Ernie Clement has been embracing the leadoff spot. Lukes, however, found himself at the top of the Jays’ order Wednesday.

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To say he has been struggling at the plate would be stating the obvious.  He entered the night having recorded two hits, both in the same game when the Jays beat the visiting Colorado Rockies 5-1.

Lukes led off Wednesday by sending a routine fly ball into left field on a 2-0 count. In his second at-bat, he hit into a double play as Lukes’ average slid all the way to .067.

He’s forcing it, likely knowing his role remains fluid.

3. Lenyn Sosa is so so

Lenyn Sosa is known for his ability to make contact at the plate.

In the second game of the Jays’ three-game series against the Brewers, the recently acquired Sosa made his first start at second base.

On the first ball hit his way, Sosa made a nice play by going to his left before throwing to the bag at second base to force the runner out.

He’s not going to overwhelm anyone, but at least Sosa provides another option, especially when the Jays are facing right-handed pitching.

Sosa, who led the White Sox with 22 home runs last season, sent a fly ball into left field with two on and two outs in the seventh inning that resulted in a long inning-ending out.

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The musical-chairs approach seems to be what the Jays are committed to in the absence of a legitimate, everyday incumbent outside of first base, shortstop and centre field.

Kazuma Okamoto has received the majority of the starts at third, even though everyone knows the ever-versatile Clement is better.

Given the events of the eighth inning, one could argue Clement should have started at second, Sosa at third. Naturally, hindsight is 20/20.

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Up next

An afternoon start time (1:40 p.m. first pitch) likely means Tyler Heineman, who has been nursing some back discomfort, will be behind the plate; Valenzuela made his fifth consecutive start Wednesday, recording a hit and throwing out a runner attempting to steal second, but the error he committed late was costly … Patrick Corbin will get the start in the series finale.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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