Bullpen blunders lead to Blue Jays loss vs. White Sox

Brett Cecil and the Blue Jays bullpen could not clean up after Marcus Stroman, surrendering a four-run lead to lose 7-5 to the Chicago White Sox on Monday night at the Rogers Centre.

For the second time this season, Stroman fell victim to the runners he left on base after he handed over to the bullpen.

Stroman pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and forcing eight ground ball outs. After Brett Cecil allowed singles to Adam Eaton and Jimmy Rollins, Gavin Floyd allowed a two-RBI double to Todd Frazier (both runs charged to Cecil) to close out a five-run seventh inning with the Blue Jays down 6-5.

Pat Venditte gave up an insurance run on a walk and a hit, then handed off to Jesse Chavez for a clean ninth with two strikeouts.

Cecil has now allowed six of his nine inherited base runners to score, with the Blue Jays bullpen as a whole allowing 14 of 28 to score.

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Edwin Encarnacion was barrelling up the ball on offence for the Blue Jays, driving in three runs on a double and a single.

Michael Saunders homered in his return to the Toronto lineup after dealing with some left hamstring tightness, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Ezequiel Carrera remained hot in the leadoff spot, too, going 2-for-5 while giving Kevin Pillar a day off in centre field.

Russell Martin was still dealing with neck spasms for the Blue Jays, leaving Josh Thole to start again as the only available catcher. Prior to the game, manager John Gibbons said that second baseman Darwin Barney would act as the team’s emergency catcher if needed.

The game ended on an especially odd play. With Troy Tulowitzki on first base, Michael Saunders hit a high shortstop towards second baseman Brett Lawrie. Misjudging the final bounce, the ball hit Tulowitzki’s arm, an automatic out and the third of the inning.

Drew Hutchison is expected to be optioned to triple-A Buffalo prior to Tuesday’s game. Gibbons’ comments on Monday indicate that 3B/1B Matt Dominguez could be recalled.

In the second game of the series, the Blue Jays send R.A. Dickey (1-2, 6.10 ERA) to the mound to face Chicago’s ace in Chris Sale (4-0, 1.80 ERA).