Game #31 Toronto Blue Jays (14-17) @ LA Angels (15-17) - game recap

Mike Trout was 2-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI as the Angels defeated the Blue Jays 6-2 to complete the series sweep

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got the night off after a rough night, both at the plate and in the field last night. Aaron Sanchez was on the mound pitching in LA for the 1st time since he got his finger caught in luggage prior to a start here nearly a year ago. The other afro-styled players, Alen Hanson and Freddy Galvis got the start in RF and SS respectively. Could the Blue Jays avoid being swept? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Angels opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Kole Calhoun whacked a 2-run blast over the wall in right-center; also scoring Albert Pujols
• The Angels added a run in the bottom of the 4th off a bases loaded walk by Kevan Smith that forced in Andrelton Simmons
• The Angels added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th as Simmons singled to right scoring Mike Trout and Brian Goodwin. Alen Hanson got an error on the play as the ball skidded under his glove
• The Blue Jays got on the board in the top of the fifth as Brandon Drury scored on a groundout by Teoscar Hernandez
• Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 4IP 9H 5R (4 earned) 2BB 2K 89 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got another run back in the top of the 6th as Randal Grichuk doubled home Eric Sogard
• The Angels added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Trout crushed a solo blast to straightaway center
• Tyler Skaggs pitrching line: 6IP 4H 2R (both earned) 3BB 5K 98 pitches (63 for strikes)
• Final Score: Angels 6 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Aaron Sanchez was lit up to the tune of five runs on nine hits and a pair of walks over 4 innings. Sanchez simply didn't have his best stuff today.
• The meat of the Angels lineup did the damage offensively with Mike Trout, Brian Goodwin, Andrelton Simmons and Albert Pujols combining to score 5 of the Angels 6 runs and accounted for 9 of the 11 hits tonight.
• If there's a small silver lining, Albert Pujols did not reach the 2000 RBI milestone this series. He will have to try again in two days when the Angels meet division rivals Houston Astros in Mexico. By the way, I think it's great for the game of baseball that they play games in international cities. The NHL, NBA, and NFL have already been doing this. Obviously logistics and travel make it difficult to arrange these games during the regular season.
• Smart move by Charlie Montoyo sitting Vlad Guerrero Junior tonight. He's had a whirlwind week and he needs a day to chill. Plus he can pick things up from the bench wanting his teammates compete.
• Up next, the Blue Jays travel to Texas for a weekend series against the Rangers. It will be a bit of a home coming for Guerrero as his father played a season in Texas towards the end of his career. Trent Thornton will get another opportunity for his first career victory. The Rangers will counter with seasoned veteran lefty Mike Minor.

#31 - Toronto Blue Jays (14-16) at Los Angeles Angels (14-17)

Thursday, May 2, 2019 | 7:07 pm PT

Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Anaheim, CA

Aaron Sanchez (3-1, 2.32, 1.32) vs. Tyler Skaggs (2-2, 3.15, 1.25)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays look to salvage the finale of a 3-game series against the Angels after losing the first two games.

The finale features a decent pitching match-up with Aaron Sanchez going up against Tyler Skaggs.

Game #30 Toronto Blue Jays (14-16) @ LA Angels (14-17) - game recap

Rowdy Tellez was 2-3 with a walk and broke the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout with one swing of the bat as the Blue Jays fell to the Angels 6-3

Twenty-four hours after a tough loss to the Angels, the Blue Jays were looking to get back on track. Ace Marcus Stroman was looking for his second win of the season. The Blue Jays more or less went with the same lineup as last night, except Danny Jansen was behind the plate, Justin Smoak was back at 1st base and Rowdy Tellez served as the DH. Could the Blue Jays even the series? Here is tonight's game recap.

#30 - Toronto Blue Jays (14-15) at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (13-17)

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 | 10:07 pm ET

Angels Stadium of Anaheim | Somewhere near Disneyland

Marcus Stroman (1-3, 1.43, 1.09) vs. Luke Bard (0-1, 3.38, 1.13)

PREAMBLE:

The Blue Jays are coming off a loss in the opener of a six-game road trip and look to get back onto the winning track again as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. experienced a major-league loss for the first time in the home where he was 'Mini-Me' to his father for six years.

Marcus Stroman takes his birthday cake (28 today) out to the mound today as he seeks to burnish his trade bait credentials, going up against The Bard of Anaheim, Luke Bard.

Game #29 Toronto Blue Jays (14-15) @ LA Angels (13-17) - game recap

Brandon Drury hit a clutch HR for the 3rd time in 4 games in a losing effort as the Blue Jays were edged by the Angels 4-3

The Blue Jays opened their second west coast swing, taking on the LA Angels, the former team of Vladimir Guerrero Sr.. Freddy Galvis made his return to the lineup after missing most of the last week with a hamstring issue (he had a pinch hitting appearance vs. San Francisco and played 2 innings and got 2 AB against Oakland Sunday. Brandon Drury got the start in right field for the first time since 2016, when he made 27 starts and 32 games at the position for the Diamondbacks. Clay Buchholz was looking to continue his strong start to the season. Could the Blue Jays climb above .500 for the first time since the season-opening series? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Freddy Galvis scored on a wild pitch by Angels starter Griffin Canning
• The Angels tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Tommy La Stella singled home Andrelton Simmons
• A batter later, Jonathan Lucroy whacked a line drive over the wall in left center also scoring La Stella
• Brandon Drury got the Blue Jays within one leading off the top of the 5th with another clutch opposite field home run
• Three batters later, Teoscar Hernandez scored on a ground out by Billy McKinney
• Griffin Canning pitching line: 4.1IP 4H 3R (all earned) 1BB 6K 82 pitches (49 for strikes)
• Clay Buchholz pitching line: 5IP 6H 3R (all earned) 2BB 3K 95 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Angels took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Brian Goodwin tattooed a solo shot to left-center
• Hansel Robbles pitched a scoreless 9th for his second save of the season
• Final score: Angels 4 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Clay Buchholz battled his way through five innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and a pair of walks. Buchholz made a heads up play to end the 3rd inning scampering to grab an errant throw from Eric Sogard, playing his third different position in a week (Sogard was at 3rd base until Guerrero Jr was recalled, then he switched to SS for the Oakland series and started at second base tonight with Freddy Galvis returning to action), before firing a strike to Rowdy Tellez to nail Mike Trout scrambling back to second base after confusion on the base paths. Justin Bour, who was on second base, chose to stay put, so Trout had to get back to second base.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had what might have been his best game of his young career. He made a great diving play at 3rd base. I don't normally put links in the game recap, but this is a play you have to see again. At the plate, Guerrero Jr. showed great patience at the plate, drawing a pair of walks. His bat will come around as he gains more experience facing the pitchers he's never faced before. Once again, he was lifted for a pinch runner in the 9th. This time, it wouldn't have mattered if Rickey Henderson in his prime had been the pinch runner, it still would have been a DP. Hopefully Montoyo at some point trusts Guerrero Jr. to run the bases in a tight game. We don't want his bat taken out of the lineup as it was Sunday when the Blue Jays tied it and the game went into extra innings.
• Brandon Drury was clutch again at the plate, immediately putting his team within one after the Angels had taken the lead the previous inning. He is also having good at-bats. Sure he struck out to end the game, but there's no way the second-last pitch of the game was a strike. It was clearly an inch outside.
• Teoscar Hernandez's defense has turned 180. This season he is taking much better routes to the ball. Today, he made a great diving catch to rob Trout of a hit in the bottom of the 8th
• Up next, the Blue Jays look to even the series as ace Marcus Stroman pitches against Angels righty Felix Pena