Blue Jays: Win streak snapped with 10-6 loss to Braves

The 5 game win streak for the Toronto Blue Jays came to an end on Monday night as they dropped the series opener with the Atlanta Braves by a score of 10-6.

All good things must come to an end eventually, and such was the case with the Blue Jays’ most recent win streak. After having won 5 straight, the blue birds dropped the opener against the Mariners on Monday night.

The Blue Jays sent Mike Bolsinger to the hill for his second start of the season and he didn’t fare as well as he did in his first time out. On Monday he lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing 8 hits and 5 earned runs, walking 2 and hitting another 3 batters. The defence didn’t give him a lot of help on the day, but it was hardly his best outing as a big leaguer.

The Braves countered with 43 year old Bartolo Colon, who threw 5 innings, allowing 7 hits and 3 earned runs, picking up the win, his first since signing with Atlanta.

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On the plus side for the Blue Jays, Devon Travis and Jose Bautista both continued to look as though they’re figuring things out at the plate. They each collected 3 hits, with Travis having a pair of doubles and a single, and Bautista the reverse. Both struggled mightily in April, so it’s certainly a plus to see signs of life from their respective bats.

Justin Smoak also continued his hot hitting, adding 2 hits to his season total, one of them coming as a late blast, good for his 8th of the season. After being the subject of ridicule on media and social media throughout the offseason, Smoak continues to prove his doubters wrong.

In addition to Bolsinger hitting 3 batters in the game, Leonel Campos and Aaron Loup each added another later in the game, bringing the total to 5 for the Blue Jays’ pitching staff.

Bautista also provided a highlight reel moment in the 5th inning, nabbing Dansby Swanson who was trying to reach second base for a double. Without the perfect sequence of events, including a favourable bounce to Bautista to start with followed by a perfect throw to second, Swanson should have had an easy double. The throw was the latest sign from Bautista that his body is in much better shape than during the 2016 season, and his arm as strong as we’ve seen since as far back as 2015.

The two teams face off again on Tuesday in the second of their 4 game series, with the Blue Jays sending Marco Estrada to the hill against Jamie Garcia for the Braves. Estrada is 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 8 starts, while Garcia enters at 1-2, 4.33 in 6 outings.

Next: Blue Jays: Is Justin Smoak's success sustainable?