Khris Davis was 4-4 at the plate with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored as the A's doubled up on the Blue Jays 10-5
Game highlights:
- Kendrys Morales drove in the first run of the game in the bottom of the second on a fielder's choice that scored Kevin Pillar
- The A's tied it in the top of the 3rd on a Jed Lowrie double that scored Matt Joyce
- The next batter Khris Davis, hit a 2 run HR scoring Lowrie
- Andrew Triggs pitching line 2.1IP 1H 1R (earned) 2BB 1K 42 pitches (19 for strikes)
- Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 4IP 5H 4R (all earned) 4BB 8K 97 pitches (58 for strikes)
- Matt Olson hit a three run HR in the top of the 5th scoring Davis and Lowrie
- Three batters later Dustin Fowler singled home Matt Chapman
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 5th on a Justin Smoak double that scored Richard Urena
- The next batter, Yangervis Solarte singled home Curtis Granderson
- Smoak scored on a sac fly by Kevin Pillar
- The A's added 2 more in the top of the 6th on a 2 run HR by Chapman scoring Davis
- Granderson walked in the bottom of the 8th to force in Russell Martin
- Joyce singled home Marcus Simien in the top of the 9th
- Final score: A's 10 Blue Jays 5
- Oakland A's starter Andrew Triggs was forced to leave the game with an injury to his pitching arm. He was tentatively diagnosed with a nerve issue in his forearm. Triggs will likely have further imaging in the coming days and could see time on the DL. The A's bullpen will need one of the next three starters to go deep in the ball game.
- There are 2 things that will drive up a pitch count: walks and strikeouts. Aaron Sanchez had high numbers of both. This meant he was at 91 pitches going into the 5th inning and was out of the game 6 pitches later after walking the first batter of the 5th inning. Sanchez appeared to be overthrowing the balk today.
- Actually, this was not the best game for the Blue Jays pitching staff (starter and relievers combined). The Blue Jays pitching staff gave up 3 home runs for seven runs tonight.
- The strike zone was quite inconsistent today with pitches that the pitch tracker showed as being off the plate being called strikes and vice versa.
- The Blue Jays had their chances to get back in the game. They rallied for three runs in the 5th to get within three, but Russell Martin flied out to right. The Blue Jays also wasted a bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the 8th. They got only 1 run in that situation on a Curtis Granderson walk. I though Josh Donaldson should have swung at the pitch before the one he grounded out on. The A's pitcher, Ryan Dull, completely missed his spot inside.
- The only reason Kendrys Morales got on base today was due to a throwing mistake by Jed Lowrie, who tried to get Kevin Pillar, who was going to score easily on the play. Interesting that Morales ditched his glasses for his last AB and donned batting gloves. Kendrys Morales has been wearing glasses this season, in an attempt to pick up the spin on breaking balls better. Maybe contact lenses might be a better option, as Morales has not looked comfortable at the plate. The Blue Jays need production from the DH position, something that has been lacking this season.
- Interesting note: both the Blue Jays and A's have identical records (22-22). One of these teams will be below .500 after tomorrow's game.
- Up next, the Blue Jays look to even the 4 game series at one with Marco Estrada against ex-Jay Brett Anderson. Anderson had a 2-2 record and a 5.13 ERA in 7 starts with the Blue Jays in 2017. Tomorrow's start will determine the starting pitcher for the Blue Jays on Saturday. Marcus Stroman is still recovering from a shoulder problem in Dunedin. Joe Biagini is tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday's game. However, if Estrada can't get through at least 6 or 7 innings, Biagini might be called upon to pitch some innings tomorrow, rendering him unavailable for Saturday. In that scenario, likely Sam Gaviglio would get the start Saturday..
