Game #28 Oakland A's (14-16) @ Toronto Blue Jays (14-14) - game recap

Brandon Drury hit a clutch game-tying 3-run bomb as the Blue Jays came from behind to defeat the A's 5-4

The Blue jays wrapped up the homestand today with a tilt vs. the Oakland A's. This season has proved to be a reversal of fortunes. In 2018, Oakland won all seven games and a win today would have Toronto sweeping the season series.Trent Thornton was back on the mound in his 6th attempt at his first career win. Luke Maile was his battery mate behind the plate. Could the Blue Jays get back to .500, sweep the season series and hit the road riding a three game winning streak? Here is today's game  recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Eric Sogard smacked a solo shot into the A's bullpen to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
• The A's tied the game in the top of the 3rd as Khris Davis doubled home Matt Chapman
• Trent Thronton pitching line: 5IP 2H 1R (earned) 5BB 7K 103 pitches (56 for strikes)
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 7IP 3H 1R (earned) 0BB 9K 103 pitches (70 for strikes)
• The A's took the lead in the top of the 11th as Stephen Piscotty scored on a sac fly by Roman Laureano
• A batter later, Josh Phegley doubled scoring Kendrys Morales
• Three batters later, Chapman was hit by a pitch, forcing in Phegley
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as Brandon Drury launched a three-run blast to right-center also scoring Rowdy Tellez and Billy McKinney
• Four batters later,  Justin Smoak singled home Freddy Galvis
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 A's 4

My Take 

• Both starting pitchers threw 103 pitches, but A's starter Chris Bassitt lasted an extra two innings because he did not walk a batter, whereas Blue Jays starter Trent Thornton was wild again, walking five batters, and throwing 30 pitches in the 1st inning alone. He managed to escape a bases loaded jam in the opening inning and ended the 5th inning by striking out Khris Davis. If Thornton wants to win in this league, he needs much better command of his pitches.
• Has Devon Travis played his last game in a Blue Jays uniform? Look at the players currently playing in the field. Brandon Drury has been clutch at the plate this week, Eric Sogard is just playing on another level, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is still very early in his MLB career and the team will be patient with him. Finally, Freddy Galvis isn't far off from returning. Even injured, he managed to get a long single and gut it out around the bases to score the game-winning run. It's entirely possible that Devon Travis gets moved without playing another game in a Blue Jays uniform, once he's healthy.
• Curious move by Charlie Montoyo pinch running for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Sure, Guerrero Jr. may not be the quickest base runner in the world, but by removing him from the game, Montoyo took away his bat for some potential extra-inning heroics
• Way too many walks given up by Blue Jays pitchers today. Besides Thronton's five walks, lefty Thomas Pannone walked a trio of batters. Pitching coach Pete Walker was ejected in the 11th inning for arguing balls and strikes. However, the umpire won't give the benefit of the doubt on close pitches if the pitcher hasn't been consistently throwing strikes. Also, most umpires won't fall for the catcher bringing the ball back into the strike zone.
• Up next, after a travel day Monday, the Blue Jays open a three game series against the LA Angels. Clay Buchholz takes the ball against Angels righty Griffin Canning who will be making his MLB debut.