Blue Jays hang on after great Sanchez start, take series

The Toronto Blue Jays are leaving Coors Field with a 2-1 series victory, taking the final game 5-3 over the Colorado Rockies on the back of a strong pitching performance.

Starter Aaron Sanchez was brilliant, working eight innings of one-run ball using 106 pitches. Sanchez forced 12 ground ball outs and allowed just two fly ball outs, limiting the Rockies to six hits and striking out three. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the seventh with a double play, Sanchez overcame pressure in the eighth inning as well to secure the win.

Closer Roberto Osuna entered for the ninth despite the four-run lead and pitching in yesterday’s late game. After surrendering a leadoff walk and back-to-back doubles, The Rockies had pulled within two. Osuna then loaded the bases after hitting Charlie Blackmon, but ended the nail-biter with a strikeout.

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Junior Lake picked up the start in right field for the Blue Jays and opened up the scoring in the second inning with an RBI double.

Sanchez then came close to getting involved in the offence himself. He appeared to beat out a chopper for an infield single, but following a collision at first base that earned Sanchez a visit from trainer, the two-run single was overturned on replay.

Josh Donaldson followed up with a solo home run, his 18th of the season, in the third inning. Edwin Encarnacion later drove in his 30th run of June, tying him for the second most by a Blue Jays hitter in a single month. Encarnacion finished the day 2-for-3 with two runs and a pair of walks.

Josh Thole got the start with Russell Martin taking the day off, his first time working with Sanchez in a starting role. The backup catcher enjoyed one of his strongest games of the season, going 2-for-3 with a walk.

Toronto heads home to open a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians that will run from Thursday through Sunday. R.A. Dickey, Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada, and J.A. Happ are scheduled to start.