After splitting the first 2 games of the series, the Blue Jays were looking to win their second series of the season. It was Buck Martinez's final broadcast for several weeks as he underhoes treatment for cancer. Hyun-Jin Ryu looked like he was headed for a stint on the il after leaving yesterday's start with left forearm stiffness. Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer was back in the fielde after the day off yesterday.Cavan Biggio was in RF. Could the Blue Jays end the easter weekend and homestand with a win? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1stb on a sac fly by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. that scored George Springer
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Santiago Espinal singled scoring Zack Collins
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Matt Chapman singled home Gurriel Jr.
- Adam Oller pitching line: 3.1IP 5H 3R (2 earned) 3BB 3K 75 pitches (44 for strikes)
- The A's got one back in the top of the 5th as Stephen Vogt whacked a solo blast to right-center
- Four batters later, Cristian Pache scored on a sac fly by Sean Murphy
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning on a fielder's choice and ensuing fielding error by Kevin Smith on a ball hit by Chapmsn that scored Gurriel Jr.
- Alek Manoah pitching line: 6IP 4H 2R (both earned) 2BB 6K 84 pitches (55 for strikes)
- The A's got one back in the top of the 8th on a sac fly by Seth Brown that scored Murphy
- Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless 9th for his 6th save of the season.
- Final score: Blue Jays 4 A's 3
My Take:
- Alek Manoah threw 6 solid innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2. Manoah wasn't at his best with his arsenal, but he was able to make the pitches he had to make to escape innings. Typically pitchers might have their best stuff 6 or 7 times out of every ten starts. The rest of the time they are figuring out what they have working that day.
- The bullpen held the A's to a run on 2 hits and a walk and 2 strikeouts over the final 3 innings
- Offensively, the Blue Jays drove in all 4 runs off either a single or a sac fly. It's a good thing to know the team can score enough runs to win without a home run.
- Matt Champan is swinging a hot bat and burned his former team, scoring twice and driving in a run
- Up next, after an off-day/travel day ttomorrow, the Blue Jays hit the road for a six game trip starting Tuesday in Boston. Yusei Kikuchi starts for the Blue Jays. Boston hasn't announced a starting pitcher for Tuesday yet.
