Jays can’t complete sweep; lose 5-3 to the White Sox

Josh Donaldson was at it again. After last night’s heroics, he attempted to deliver dramatic results again in the matinee this afternoon. He tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 9th inning after hitting a home run off David Robertson for the second game in a row, but the Jays couldn’t muster up another run for the win.

Roberto Osuna entered the game in the 10th after Donaldson tied it and gave up multiple runs in an appearance for the first time in his young career, and issued his first earned run since April 27th in Boston. The Jays got two runners on in the bottom half of the inning after Chris Colabello singled for his third hit of the game and Josh Thole walked.

Kevin Pillar came up to the plate but didn’t stand much of a chance against Robertson as he whiffed on three cutters from the White Sox closer. Despite getting on base twice today, he is really struggling and putting together an absolutely abysmal May. His OPS for May sits at .419 for the month after today, and his season wRC+ is a pathetic 51. Ha plays great defense and the hustle he displays is admirable, but if he continue to swing the bat this way, their will need to be a change. Even Ryan Goins is out-hitting him… (wRC+ of 71)

Robertson got Danny Valencia to ground into a fielders choice to end the game. It’s easy to be disappointed in today’s loss because the bullpen managed to yet again give up more runs in a crucial situation, but perspective is needed here.

They came away with the series win, the sweep would have been nice, but you can never complain when you take a series. You also can’t expect Osuna to keep a sub 1 ERA for an extended portion of the season. Clearly, he has great stuff and he’s been terrific so far, but the odd slip-up from the 20-year-old is to be expected.

The offence wasn’t great, but it wasn’t awful either. They ran into a power starting pitcher in Jeff Samardzija who’s been rolling as of late. They racked up 13 hits and had base runners on all game, they just couldn’t come up with big hits in spots where they needed them, and failed to come up with extra base hits with runners on. Frustrating to watch, but it’s hardly been a pattern this year, nothing to worry about.

Donaldson’s home run in the 9th was another terrific piece of hitting, jumping on a high fastball from Robertson, depositing his 13th HR of the year into the left field seats. Colabello continues to swing a hot bat, registering three more base knocks today. His .386/.440/.578 line is fantastic, leading him to a wRC+ of 185. There’s no questioning that he’s finding a way to square up the baseball, but his .509 BABIP will be coming down, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Marco Estrada delivered another quality start for the Jays, and his overall line was a little bit skewed by the two run double by Jose Abreu that should have been an inning ending flyout in the second inning. Ezequiel Carrera lost the ball in the sun and it landed for a double, scoring both Carlos Sanchez and Adam Eaton.

Estrada allowed 8 base hits, the lucky Abreu double being the only one for extra bases, and didn’t walk a batter through his 7 innings. He only registered 2 K’s, which is lower than you’d expect, as he’d come into today with a 8.62 K/9 on the year. But the 0 BB’s and limiting of extra base hits were good to see from him.

Since joining the rotation, he’s been solid for the Jays. Nothing spectacular, but consistently average. If he can provide what J.A. Happ did for the Jays last year, which seems to be in the realm of possibility, and be relatively consistent, that would be terrific for the Jays. With the offence they possess, an ERA between 4.00 and 4.50 would be doable, but asking for more because of those faltering around him would be pushing it.

The Jays have an off-day tomorrow and head on a six game road trip in Minnesota and Washington. Both the Twins and Nationals are rolling as of late, so it will definitely be a test.