J.A. Happ hit hard as Blue Jays fall to Angels

May 10, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ (48) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

J.A. Happ made his second start of the season but against a much more competent lineup he wasn’t good and was pulled in just the third inning. The lefty gave up long balls to Chris Iannetta and C.J. Cron and was tagged for four runs off seven hits.

His location wasn’t sharp and the Angels made him pay on misses over the middle of the plate. The question now becomes whether or not the Blue Jays decide to go back to Happ when his next scheduled turn comes up in five days.

Todd Redmond took the ball after Happ left the game and kept the Jays in it pitching four and two-thirds innings of one-run ball. Esmil Rogers also had what was maybe his most impressive appearance of the season with two clean frames and a strikeout.

Tyler Skaggs kept the Blue Jays in check and pitched into the ninth inning, tossing a four-hit gem. After he was given the lead early he attacked the strike zone and didn’t issue any walks the entire game. Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera collected back-to-back hits in the bottom of the ninth to spoil the complete game bid for Skaggs, which up to that point doubled the Jays’ hit total for the day.

Jose Bautista extended his on base streak to 37 games with a single in the ninth to score Reyes and cut the gap to three then Dioner Navarro scored Cabrera to make it 5-3.

With two men on base and the scoring run at the plate, manager John Gibbons pinch hit Adam Lind for Erik Kratz and used Sergio Santos as a pinch runner. However the rally was cut short after Lind grounded into a double play to end the game.

The loss drops the Blue Jays’ record to 18-19 on the season.