Yusei Kikuchi’s Blue Jays debut was a dud — the catchers didn’t help

By: Gregor Chisholm - Baseball Columnist, Toronto Star Posted: 9:39 PM CDT Tuesday, Apr. 12, 2022 Last Modified: 9:41 PM CDT Tuesday, Apr. 12, 2022

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Three things you need to know about the Blue Jays’ 4-0 road loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night:

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Three things you need to know about the Blue Jays’ 4-0 road loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night:

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/04/2022 (1304 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three things you need to know about the Blue Jays’ 4-0 road loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night:

Rocky start

Lefty starter Yusei Kikuchi did not inspire a lot of confidence in his Jays debut. He gave up a lot of hard contact early and was bailed out by a couple of nice plays from his outfielders before Aaron Hicks hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the second. Those were the only two earned runs Kikuchi allowed — he did well to limit the damage — but he also required 84 pitches to retire just 10 batters while allowing five hits and two walks in the inefficient outing.

Frank Franklin II - The Associated Press
Yankee D.J. LeMahieu trots home after a two-run homer by Aaron Hicks off Jays lefty Yusei Kikuchi in the second inning of Tuesday night’s game in the Bronx. — Frank Franklin II - The Associated Press Yankee D.J. LeMahieu trots home after a two-run homer by Aaron Hicks off Jays lefty Yusei Kikuchi in the second inning of Tuesday night’s game in the Bronx.

Squat from catchers

It didn’t take very long for the Jays to miss Danny Jansen’s presence behind the plate. One day after he was placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury, third-string catcher Tyler Heineman made a poor throw on a pickoff attempt at first base. His throw sailed well over the head of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., which allowed D.J. LeMahieu to score all the way from second. Heineman grounded out in his only plate appearance, while Zack Collins struck out twice off the bench. Before the game, manager Charlie Montoyo said Jansen could be out for “several weeks.”

Cold bats

The Jays couldn’t get much of anything going off lefty starter Nestor Cortes or any of the four Yankees relievers who followed. After George Springer led off the game with a double, the Jays didn’t put another runner in scoring position until the fifth. There was one final rally in the eighth, when they put runners on first and second with two out for Guerrero, who hit a weak grounder to second. The Jays finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

Gregor Chisholm is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @GregorChisholm or reach him via email: gchisholm@thestar.ca