Blue Jays end dark Friday with loss to A’s

The Toronto Blue Jays could not overcome a disappointing start from Aaron Sanchez and fell short 8-5 to the Oakland Athletics on Friday night at the Rogers Centre.

Friday’s game came just hours after it was announced that Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello had been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance enhancing substance.

Aaron Sanchez struggled for the first time this season, lasting just 4.1 innings before being pulled for recent call-up Chad Girodo. Sanchez Allowed six earned runs on ten hits and a walk, striking out three on 85 pitches.

Girodo looked very strong in relief, pitching two innings of shutout ball and allowing just one hit. Most impressively, the left-hander forced four ground ball outs. Jesse Chavez then took over for 1.2 clean innings before handing off to closer Roberto Osuna, who allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk in an uncharacteristic outing.

Darwin Barney was the unlikely source of power and got the Blue Jays started with a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the third. The second-baseman went 2-for-3 on the night with two runs batted in and a walk.

Kevin Pillar pulled the Blue Jays within one run in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run RBI single. Both Martin and Ezequiel Carrera contributed doubles.

Oakland starter Sonny Gray was all he needed to be, allowing just three earned runs over seven innings while striking out seven Blue Jays.

Troy Tulowitzki was held out of the lineup on Friday with a hip issue, and catcher Russell Martin was forced to leave midway through the game for precautionary reasons as he dealt with neck spasms.

Game two of the series sees the Blue Jays turn to J.A. Happ, and given the afternoon start time, updates on Tulowitkzki and Martin should be expected by mid-morning.