Brett Cecil had a rough outing on Thursday night, giving up 10 hits, eight earned runs, two walks and struck out six batters in 5.1 innings pitched as his Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Los Angeles Angels 9-7.
Despite the loss, manager, John Farrell told the media in the post game press conference that his team had a strong offensive night. “An outstanding game played by (Jay’s catcher) Jeff Mathis,” he said.
It was a good offensive night, sure, but if your pitching bad it’s not much of a consolation, to me anyway. What about the bottom of the ninth inning when Edwin Encarnacion hit into a double play with one out and bases loaded? Missed opportunity for sure.
Anyway, on to to the game itself, the Angels opened the scoring when Alberto Collaspo hit a solo home run in the second inning. The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom of the inning when Yunel Escobar drove in Encarnacion on a routine ground out.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Jays went ahead by one run when Mathis hit a solo home run.
The Angels took a 3-2 lead the very next inning when Mark Trumbo hit a two run homer. Peter Bourjos increased the Angel’s lead by driving in Howie Kendrick from third base with a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Jays cut the Angel’s lead to one run when Rajai Davis singled and drove in Encarnacion.
At the top of the fifth inning, Kendrick drove in Albert Pujols with a single and made it a 5-3 game.
In the bottom of the inning, though, Jose Bautista hit a three run homer to give the Jays the lead.
It was short lived, though, as the Angels scored three more runs in the sixth inning to make it 8-6.
The Jays would score one more run in the seventh inning, but that would be it as the Angels won the first of the four game series.
Torii Hunter opened the scoring for the Angels in Friday’s game when he drove in John Hester with a single at the top of the third inning.
At the top of the fourth inning, the Angels took a 2-0 lead when Mark Trumbo scored on a sacrifice fly by Erick Aybar.
In the bottom 0f the inning, though, the Blue Jays tied it up. First, Edwin Encarnacion drove in Jose Baustista with a double and then Yunel Escobar drove in Encarnacion from third base also with a double.
Then Adam Lind hit his first home run after being sent down to the minors with two on base to make it 5-2 Jays.
At the top of the fifth inning, Albert Pujols cut the Jay’s lead to two runs with a double, driving in Hunter.
The was no more scoring until the seventh inning, when Hester tied the game 5-5 with a two run homer.
The Blue Jays got their lead back in the bottom of the inning when Escobar drove in Encarnacion with a routine ground out.
The Blue Jays score an insurance run in the eighth inning when Lind hit his second home run of the game.
Casey Janssen took the mound at the top of the ninth inning and shut down the Angels in order to record his ninth save of the season.
Jay’s starting pitcher, Carlos Villanueva gave up seven hits, three earn runs, one walk, and struck out six batters in five innings pitched. Not bad for his debut as a starter.
Adam Lind hits two homers in Friday’s game
The Blue Jays had no problems with the Angels on Saturday as they hammered them 11-2.
Brett Lawrie had one of good games, going three for four at the plate, scoring three runs, and collecting three RBIs.
As for starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez, well, he gave up seven hits, only one earned run, no walks, struck out three batters and not one home run in seven innings pitched.
The Blue Jays closed the four game series with a 10-6 loss on Sunday, which happened to be Canada’s 145th birthday, known as Canada Day.
Starting pitcher, Aaron Laffey gave up only four hits, two earned runs, no walks and struck out four batters in six innings pitched.
The Jays will host the Kansas City Royals in another four game series, starting Monday night.
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