Bo Bichette's perfect 5-for-5 day was wasted as the Blue Jays bullpen collapsed in a 10-4 loss to the Tigers on July 27. See how the 8th inning fell apart.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. In a game that featured a career day for Bo Bichette, it was a disastrous bullpen collapse that ultimately defined the afternoon, as the Jays fell 10-4 to the Detroit Tigers and missed out on a four-game sweep.
Bo Bichette was a one-man wrecking crew, going 5-for-5 and extending his on-base streak to 19 games.
If you were looking for a silver lining in Sunday's loss, you didn't have to look far. Bo Bichette was simply on another planet. The Jays' shortstop put on a clinic at the plate, going a perfect 5-for-5 in a masterful display of hitting. He was the lone bright spot in the lineup for most of the day, capping his performance with a two-run single in the ninth-inning rally that made the final score more respectable. The incredible day raised his season average and extended his white-hot on-base streak to 19 games. When one player is responsible for all of your team's multi-hit efforts, you know he's locked in.
Unfortunately, Bichette's heroics were overshadowed by a complete meltdown from the bullpen. What was a manageable 3-0 game entering the eighth inning quickly spiraled out of control. The Tigers hung a seven-spot on the board against Chad Green and Joe Bruihl, turning the contest into a blowout. Even a solid start from birthday boy Max Scherzer, who struck out 11 over seven innings and allowed only a three-run homer to Gleyber Torres, wasn't enough to withstand the late-game implosion. It was a brutal reminder of how quickly a game can change and a frustrating end to an otherwise dominant series.
The bad news wasn't confined to the field. The Blue Jays placed catcher Alejandro Kirk on the 7-day injured list with a concussion sustained in Saturday's game. It's a tough blow for the team, which will now rely on newly-recalled Ali Sánchez from Triple-A to back up the catching position. The roster churn continued with outfielder Alan Roden being recalled, while infielder Will Wagner was placed on the restricted list for a heartwarming reason: to attend his father Billy Wagner's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. While we wish the Wagner family all the best, Kirk's absence will be felt behind the plate.
Despite the sour taste of Sunday's loss, let's not lose perspective. The Blue Jays are still a blistering 8-2 since the All-Star break and showed plenty of fight in this series. The focus now shifts to a massive four-game set in Baltimore against a tough Orioles team. With Chris Bassitt getting the ball on Monday, it's a perfect opportunity to wash away the memory of that eighth inning and prove that this team's post-break surge is the real deal. This series will be a true test of their mettle.
