Game Recap: Blue Jays Best AL Leading Royals

The Blue Jays have pushed most of their chips in to the pot. Alex Anthopoulos has provided the team more than ample tools to get the job done (and he may not be finished yet). It is now up to them to actualize and finally live up to their lofty potential. There are no more excuses. The onus is on the players and the stakes are now quite high. There’s a fair bit of ground to make up and they begin with a tough test against the AL leading Royals.

Marco Estrada pitched well early but was a victim of some bad luck in the 1st inning which led to two runs against. He sat down the Royals in order in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th innings. He was yanked in the 6th after allowing his first baserunner since the 1st.

Danny Duffy struggled to find the strike zone early, walking 3 and allowed two home runs of the bats of Dioner Navarro and Russell Martin. A sac fly earlier in the game gave the Jays 4 runs after 3 innings. Duffy was lucky not have more damage inflicted as he elicited several timely pop ups. Duffy gave up another home run in the 4th off the bat of Josh Donaldson.

Duffy was pulled after the 6th and Herrera pitched a clean 7th inning. Medlen loaded the bases in the 8th but escaped the jam unscathed

Brett Cecil finished up the 6th inning for Estrada and LaTroy Hawkins handled the 7th. Aaron Sanchez continued the scoreless relief in the 8th. Roberto Osuna shut things down with ease in the 9th. The new bullpen set up worked very well.

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Game Notes:

–  Edwin Encarnacion and Devon Travis were on the bench recovering from their ailments. Encarnacion was available to pinch hit. Travis was not available and a decision whether to put him on the DL or not will come tomorrow

– Duffy’s reactions to the Jays home runs suggested he had no idea how the Jays managed to hit them out. He should cut himself some slack as he was facing one of the best lineups ever assembled

– With David Price keeping his number 14, Justin Smoak changed to number 13

– Navarro came to the plate in the 8th with the wrong-handed helmet. Luckily the training staff caught on and got him the correct one before he faced a pitch

Next: David Price Deal Made Possible By AAs Draft