Six hours, 39 minutes, more than 19 pitchers used and 31 hits combined, and the Jays enter Game 4 looking to tie the series. There were fielding mishaps, baserunning errors and some questionable calls from home plate umpire Mark Wegner, but at the end of the day, the Blue Jays have to find a way to get themselves back in the win column after a long night at the ballpark.
Lost in the moment after the loss was left-hander Eric Lauer’s all-out effort. The Jays’ bullpen did pretty well overall, but Eric Lauer carried most of the load when the Jays needed him most last night.
Lauer entered the match in the bottom of the 12th inning and was tasked with taking on Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez, throwing a clean frame. He would go four more innings, allowing just two hits while facing the Dodgers’ lineup multiple times, and was able to escape multiple tailbacks to keep Toronto in the game.
Eric Lauer appreciation tweet 👏 4.2 SCORELESS innings out of the bullpen! #WANTITALL
In the 15th inning, the top of the order returned, and while the Jays decided to intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani, Lauer was able to keep him at first base by flying Mookie Betts to right field and Freeman to center field, ending another game-ending situation. In Lauer’s final frame in the bottom of the 16th, he retired Will Smith and Munch before a catch by Hernandez sealed the deal. It was a 68-pitch affair for the southpaw, who didn’t generate much swing and miss last night, but was able to keep the Blue Jays in the game by shutting down the Dodgers’ bats for nearly five innings.
This isn’t a first for Lauer this season – if there were an internal award for the ‘unsung hero’ on this team, the 30-year-old would be near the top of the list.
After signing a MiLB deal with the Jays last winter, he got the call from Buffalo on April 30 and hasn’t looked back. Over 28 appearances, 15 of which came out of the rotation, he pitched to a 3.18 ERA over 104 2/3 innings while holding batters to a .227/.278/.407 slash line and a .684 OPS. He finished the regular season with a 3.85 FIP and a 1.108 WHIP and was able to limit free passes (2.2 BB/9) and strike out hitters with an 8.8 K/9, finishing the year with a stellar 2.2 bWAR.
This is an appreciation post from Eric Lauer
While the Toronto Blue Jays lost last night, it was Eric Lauer who gave the club a fighting chance late in overtime. It has been a consistent storyline for Lauer this season, and what he has contributed to the team this year, and this should bode well for next season and his role with the club going forward.
PRESENTED BY VIVID CHAIRS
#Eric #Lauer #continues #shine #Blue #Jays