After a loss to Oakland in Marcus Semien's return to the Bay area after signing a one year deal with the Blue Jays in the off-season, the Blue Jays were looking to even up the series. Anthony Kay got the ball first in what's expected to be a bullpen day. Bo Bichette got the half day off as the DH. Cavan Biggio got the start at 2B with Teoscar Hernandez in RF. Santiago Espinal was at the hot corner today and Marcus Semien was at SS. Could the Blue Jays even this 4-game series? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The A's opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Jed Lowrie doubled scoring Sean Murphy and Matt Chapman
- A batter later, Mitch Moreland drove an opposite-field 2-run shot over the left-field wall; also scoring Lowrie
- Anthony Kay pitching line: 4IP 4H 4R (all earned) 2BB 4K 71 pitches (41 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Marcus Semien doubled home Santiago Espinal
- Cole Irvin pitching line: 8IP 3H 1R (earned) 1BB 9K 102 pitches (71 for strikes)
- Yusmeiro Petit pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: A;s 4 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- Anthony Kay gave up 4 runs on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4 over 4 innings. He had three relatively good innings and one bad inning in the 2nd where he gave up a 4-spot on a 2-run double followed immediately by a 2-run tater. Given the thin healthy pitching available, it's likely Kay will remain in the rotation another turn
- Quirky stat of the night: Cole Irvin threw the same # of strikes as Anthony Kay threw pitches. Both starters tonight threw almost identical # of balls (Irvin threw 31 balls and Kay threw 30 balls)
- Danny Jansen is ice cold again after going 2-3 Sunday. He's 0-8, including striking out swinging his last AB Sunday
- Actually the whole team was ice cold tonight, mustering just a single run on 3 hits and a walk. They were 0-1 with runners in scoring position
- Marcus Semien got a hit against his old team after going hitless last night. The double drove in the only Blue Jays run
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid. Robbie Ray gets the start tomorrow night. The lefty bounced back nicely after walking a career-high 6 batters 2 starts ago. The A's will counter with righty Chris Bassitt
