A’s 7 Blue Jays 8
The Jays get their fourth win in a row.
The bad news: Daulton Varsho came out of the game with what looked like a hamstring injury. The team is saying hamstring discomfort, but it looked more than discomfort from here. I hope he’s not out too long. If he is out, Alan Roden should get some playing time.
The Jays didn’t have as much luck with the ‘bullpen day’ as they did the last time they had one. Braydon Fisher had a rough time, giving up a three-run home run in the first and then a two-run homer in the season. Five earned in 1.1 innings will mess with your ERA. Fisher came into the game with a 0.00 ERA in seven games with the Jays and left with a 4.66 ERA.
Easton Lucas came in to be the bulk guy and gave up three straight hits, to load the bases, but got out of the second. After that, he was good. He went 4.2 with just four hits (so just one more hit after the three in the second), one walk, and three strikeouts. Good job from a pitcher who hasn’t earned my trust yet. He came into the game with a 7.41 ERA and left with a 5.82 mark.
Brendon Little started the seventh and struggled to find the strike zone. He gave up a hit and two walks, getting two outs before giving way to Yariel Rodríguez, who got out of the inning without allowing any runs to score and threw a quick eighth, getting two strikeouts.
Jeff Hoffman picked up his 13th save, despite a two-out, two-run home run, bringing the tying run to the plate. And then gave up a double, but Ernie Clement made a great diving grab of a sinking liner. Diving to his right to pick it just off the ground. It would have been a tie game if it had gone through to the outfield.
The Jays, somehow, have figured out (a) how to score and (b) how to hit home runs (two things that go together well. They scored:
- Four in the first: Vladimir Guerrero had a one-out single, and Addison Barger homered: 109.4 mph, 428 feet. Then George Springer and Varsho walked, went to second and third on a Clement ground out and scored on a Nathan Lukes single.
- One in the second: Bo Bichette homered, his seventh and third in four games: 111.1 mph, and 390 feet.
- One in the third: Springer hit his first homer of the day: 107.0 mph, and 430 feet. Varsho followed with a double, but had the hamstring issue after he rounded second.
- One in the fifth: Springer hit his second homer of the day: 108.7 mph and 420 feet.
That last homer was crucial, as Hoffman wasn’t exactly great in the ninth.
We had 10 hits. Springer and Clements (using Myles Straw’s torpedo bat) had two each. Clements is on a very hot stretch. Ali Sanchez was the only starter not to get a hit.
Jays of the Day: Lucas (.270 WPA), Springer (.262 or 2 for 3, both homers, walk, 2 RBI), Barger (.133, 1 for 4, home runs, 2 RBI), Lukes (.126 1 for 3, 2 RBI), Let’s give one to Clement (.052, plus the terrific catch in the ninth) and Bo (.081, with his nice play in the seventh. A ground ball that Brendon tipped, Bo managed to change direction, grab the ball and throw in one motion, just getting the runner at first. Vlad made a great stretch and catch, too.
Other Award: Braydon Fisher (-.444).
Tomorrow we go for the four-game sweep with Kevin Gausman (5-4, 3.68) vs. yet another A’s lefty, JP Sears (4-5, 5.18).
The Jays averaged 4.9 runs per game in May. That includes the six runs in six games against the Rays and Rangers.