Blue Jays Game Recap: Inconsistency Continues

The Blue Jays had snapped a dour 5 game losing streak with a win the night before and were looking to build momentum in the right direction.

Josh Donaldson started things off with a bang sending a 3-2 offering from Hector Santiago off the top of the wall and out. Santiago settled down soon after and that was the only baserunner he allowed through the first three innings. Santiago looked to be in trouble with 2 runners on and one out in the 4th but Chris Colabello and Martin combined to be struck out and thrown out respectively. Donaldson also drove in the second run getting a sac fly to score Pillar in the 5th. The Blue Jays left two runners on in the 6th and went down in order in the 7th. Joe Smith came in for the 8th and saw the same results as the 7th. 

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Aaron Sanchez was deadly early on with his fastball sinking and his curveball biting the dust (in a good way). The one hit that Sanchez allowed in the first three innings was a weak grounder through a hole. In the 4th Sanchez allowed a solo shot of the bat of Calhoun. Sanchez didn’t let it faze him as he struck out the next batter on a nasty curve and then pitched a clean 5th. Sanchez had two runners on in the 6th but Pujols ground sharply into a well executed double play. His command started to slip in the 7th as he let up 2 walks and a run. Sanchez put on two more runners in 8th and that was the end of his night. Osuna came in and got a grounder but Donaldson made what turned out to be a poor decision by attempting to tag the lead runner—it didn’t work. That runner scored on a sac fly to put the Angels up by one.

Liam Hendriks sat down the Angels in order in the 8th.

The Blue Jays went out with a whimper in the 9th going down in order. The inconsistency that has plagued the Blue Jays all season long continued. When the pitching actually shows up, the offence disappears.

Game Notes:

– Brook Jacoby made his return to the dugout after a harsh 14 game suspension

– There was no more drama between Josh Donaldson and the Angels bench after his colourful outburst last night

– “Legitimicizes” a new word coined by Pat Tabler while the broadcast team attempted to explain WAR

– The Jays are now 2-19 in games where they score 4 or fewer. That cannot continue

Next: Stock Watch Week 5