Tough Opening Day Outing for Manoah
Alek Manoah got the start on opening day for the Blue Jays Thursday evening in St. Louis. The former West Virginia University ace was informed by Toronto manager John Scneider of the decision last week after finishing third in the AL Cy Young voting in 2022.
The matchup between the Blue Jays and the Cardinals featured two of Major League Baseball's top offenses from the 2022 season and they got off to a hot start and the Blue Jays bats gave Manoah a three-run cushion in the first.
Manoah opened the day with a strike but fell behind 3-1 before working back to a full count. However, Cardinals' leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan hit a short line drive just out of the reach of diving third baseman Matt Chapman for an infield single, however, he moved to second after shortstop Bo Bichette picked it up off the hop and an unwarranted high throw to first went into the St. Louis Bullpen allowed Donovan to second base.
Manoah walked another before recording his first strikeout of the season. Then, on Manoah's first pitch to Nolan Arenado, he fought off a high inside fastball and dropped it in for an RBI single down the left field line to for the Cardinals first run. Manoah got out of the inning on a strikeout as the Blue Jays held a 3-1 advantage after one.
The Cardinals scraped together consecutive two-out singles in the second, but Manoah ended the inning with his third strikeout of the evening.
Mar 30, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (6) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium.
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
In the third, Manoah registered his fourth strikeout to lead off the inning. However, with two outs, Wilson Contreras singled into centerfield before Tyler O'Neil hit his fourth consecutive opening day home run, joining Yogi Berra, Gary Carter and Todd Hundley as the only players to accomplish the feat.
An error at third opened the inning for Manoah, then Donovan tied the game at five with a two-run blast.
Manoah followed, recording strikeout number five and walked another before his day came to an end. He finished his day with five strikeouts in 3.1 innings while allowing five runs on nine hits. It was only the fifth time in 52 starts Manoah had not completed five innings.
Zach Pop took the mound and came away unscathed and leaving the game tied at five.
Manoah is scheduled to take the mound on April 5 at Kansas City.
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