Game #72 LA Angels (36-37) @ Toronto Blue Jays (26-46) - game recap

Cavan Biggio hit a pair of home runs in a losing effort as the Angels doubled up the Blue Jays 10-5

Big day in Toronto today (and it's not this game). The Raptors held their championship parade today, graciously waiting until the Blue Jays got back in town so they could join in the festivities. Both the Angels and Blue Jays opted to use openers in this one, meaning this game was essentially a battle of the bullpens. Justin Smoak missed his 3rd straight game with a hamstring injury. Rowdy Tellez got the start at 1st base and Eric Sogard was the DH tonight. Charlie Montoyo switched the batting order a bit, dropping Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to 3rd in the order and moving Cavan Biggio to 2nd in the order. Luke Maile got the start behind the plate. David Phelps was activated from the IL, with Elvis Luciano being transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for him on the roster. It was also the annual Jays Care auction tonight with many great items for fans to bid on, from road trips to throwing out the first pitch to a personalized voicemail message from retired Blue Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth. Could the Blue Jays make it two wins in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Cavan Biggio cracked a solo blast to straightaway center
• Derek Law pitching line: 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K 17 pitches (11 for strikes)
• The Angels tied it in the bottom of the 2nd as Justin Upton smashed a solo bomb to  dead center
• A batter later, Kole Calhoun smacked one out to right-center
• Six batters later, Mike Trout doubled home Jonathan Lucroy and Wilfredo Tovat
• A batter later, Shohei Ohtani smacked a three-run blast to left also scoring Trout and Tommy La Stella
• Luis Garcia pitching line: 1IP 1H 1R (earned) 0BB 1K 15 pitches (9 for strikes)
• The Angels added a run in the top of the 3rd as Tovar singled home Justin Bour
• The Angels added a run in the top of the 5th as Calhoun scored on a sac fly by Bour 
• The Angels added a run in the top of the 6th as Trout smashed a solo bomb into the second deck in left
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom of the 7th as Randal Grichuk crushed a 2-run bomb into the second deck in left also scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• The Blue Jays got two more back in the bottom of the 8th on a 2-run shot to the second deck in right by Biggio that also scored Eric Sogard
• Final score: Angels 10 Blue Jays 5

My Take:

• Perhaps the Blue Jays should have just skipped used Edwin Jackson period. Derek Law pitched a perfect 1st to set Jackson up. He failed miserably, getting lit up for 7 runs on 6 hits and a pair of walks. Perhaps the Blue Jays should look at stretching out Sammy G, who allowed 2 runs on 4 hits over 3.1 innings. The Blue Jays can't keep using the excuse that there's no one else to pitch those innings.
• The Blue Jays got an injury scare in the 5th when Teoscar Hernandez injured his wrist running into the wall while making a catch. He played one more inning before he was lifted for a defensive replacement to start the top of the 7th. 
• David Phelps had a solid debut, throwing 1 inning walking one and striking out one.
• Cavan Biggio had a great day at the plate, going 2-2 with a pair of home runs and 3 RBI. He also drew a pair of walks
• Randal Grichuk, Eric Sogard and Freddy Galvis had the other 6 Blue Jays hits today, each getting a pair of base knocks. Gurriel Jr, drew a walk and scored a run
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series in a battle of the aces as righty Marcus Stroman pitches against lefty Tyler Skaggs