Game #73 LA Angels (37-37) @ Toronto Blue Jays (26-47) - game recap

Marcus Stroman threw 7 strong innings in a losing effort as the Angels defeated the Blue Jays 3-1

After getting walloped (mostly Edwin Jackson) last night by the Angels, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series with ace Marcus Stroman on the bump. Justin Smoak was placed on the 10 day IL with a strained quadriceps muscle. Edwin Jackson also landed on the 10 day IL with a lower back strain. Billy McKinney and Justin Shafer took their respective roster spots. Teoscar Hernandez was also out of the lineup with a sprained wrist he injured last night banging into the wall. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was given a half day off serving as the DH, presumably to rest his injured hand from getting hit by a pitch on the weekend. Danny Jansen was back behind the plate as the primary catcher for Stroman. Could the Blue Jays even the series? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. clubbed a solo bomb to left-center
• The Angels tied it in the top of the 5th as Kole Calhoun clobbered one off the right foul pole 
• Three batters later, Brian Goodwin cranked one over the wall in right-center
• The Angels added a run in the top of the 8th as Kevan Smith scored on a ground out by Tommy La Stella
• Marcus Stroman pitching line: 7IP 4H 3R (all earned) 1BB 3K 102 pitches (69 for strikes)
• Tyler Skaggs pitching line: 7.1IP 3H 1R (earned) 0BB 6K 87 pitches (58 for strikes)
• Hansel Robles pitched a perfect 9th for his 11th save of the season
• Final score: Angels 3 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Marcus Stroman was basically lights out, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk. Unfortunately his counterpart, Ty;er Skaggs was even better, allowing 3 hits over 7.1 innings, and really he should have at least been allowed to finish the 8th inning. I mean, when Skaggs was pulled, he had sent down 9 in a row, and the Blue Jays hitters looked lost. Shame on Angels manager Brad Ausmus.
• The only time the Blue Jays had multiple runners on base was in the 5th when Randal Grichuk and Rowdy Tellez hit back to back singles (Grichuk was thrown out at 3rd), but Freddy Galvis reached on an error, only to have Danny Jansen line into an inning-ending DP. This might have been the poorest effort by the offence this season. 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2 game losing streak as Aaron Sanchez against angels lefty Aaron Heaney