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| Matt Chapman hit a 2-run homer against his former team in a 5-3 loss to the A's |
After a tough loss to start the road trip, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 4-game skid. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Gabriel Moreno behind the plate. Vlad got the full day off with Cavan Biggio at 1B. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got the full day off as well with Raimel Tapia in LF. Alejandro Kirk served as DH today. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The A's opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Christian Bethancourt singled scoring Nick Allen
- A batter later, Ramon Laureano scored on a double play ball hit by Sean Murphy
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 2nd as Matt Chapman hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Cavan Biggio
- The A's retook the lead in the bottom of the 3rd on a sac fly by Murphy that scored Allen
- Three batters later, Laureano was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Chad Pinder
- Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 2.1IP 2H 4R (all earned) 5BB 0K 54 pitches (24 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 4th as Teoscar Hernandez hammered a solo bomb to straightaway center
- The A's added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Stephen Piscotty bashed a solo jack to left-center
- Adrian Martinez pitching line: 5IP 8H 3R (all earned) 0BB 5K 82 pitches (52 for strikes)
- Lou Trivino pitched a scoreless 9th for his 6th save of the season
- Final score: A's 5 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Yusei Kikuchi could not replicate his last start. He walked the first 2 batters he faced and was lucky to escape the 1st inning with just 2 runs allowed thanks to a double play turned behind him. He walked 2 more in the 2nd, but didn't give up a run in that inning. In his final inning, he actually loaded the bases twice. First, he allowed a single and hit two batters to start the inning. After a sac fly, he walked the final batter he faced. One more run was charged to him because Trent Thornton issued his own bases loaded walk. The Blue Jays are going to have to make a decision perhaps during the all-star break to either try him in the bullpen (though with his command issues that may not be successful) or DFA him.
- The exhausted bullpen held the A's to a run on 2 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5 over the final 5.1 innings. The bigger concern is the Blue Jays don't have an off-day until after Sunday's game and they have an equally inconsistent Jose Berrios starting tomorrow and uncertainty about whether Kevin Gausman will be able to pitch on his scheduled turn Thursday - he did throw today.
- Offensively, the Blue Jays got a pair of home runs and that was about it. I'm sure it felt good for Chapman to knock one out in his old ballpark
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to avoid being swept for the second time this season and snap the season-high 5-game losing streak. Ace Jose Berrios starts against A's righty James Kaprielian
