Carlos Villanueva was named Player of the Month for July by the Toronto Baseball Writers Association.
Before I get to Thursday night’s game against Oakland, I want to take the time to mention that starting pitcher, Carlos Villanueva was named Player of the Month for July by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. The right-hander had a perfect 4-0 record last month with a 1.93 ERA in four starts.
As for game one of a four game series against the Oakltternd Athletics, the Toronto Blue Jays lost 4-1. Starting pitcher, Henderson Alvarez gave up five walks, four hits, three earned runs, and struck out only one batter in five innings pitched.
In Friday night’s game, the Jays put up a bit of a fight.
Brandon Inge put the Athletics up first in the bottom of the second inning when he drove in Yoenis Cespedes with a single.
The very next inning, Oakland went up 2-0 when Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run.
At the top of the fourth inning, Rajai Davis cut Oakland’s lead to 2-1, driving in Kelly Johnson with a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the inning, though, the A’s got their two run lead back when Chris Carter hit a solo home run.
Down 4-1 in the ninth inning, the Jays tied the game at four when Jeff Mathis hit a three run homer.
In the bottom of the 15th inning, Crisp drove in Jemile Weeks with a sacrifice fly to win the game 5-4.
Brett Cecil did not have a good night on the mound. He gave up nine hits, four earned runs one walk and struck out one batter in five innings pitched.
Derek Norris opened the scoring in Saturday’s game in the bottom of the second inning, driving in Brandon Inge with a double.
It stayed 1-0 for the Athletics until the top of the ninth inning when David Cooper of the Blue Jays tied it up with a solo home run.
The Blue Jays scored two more runs at the top of the 11th inning. First, Edwin Encarnacion scored on a n error to put his team ahead 2-1. Then Moises Sierra drove in Rajai Davis with a double.
In the bottom of the inning, Oakland went down in order and the Jays snapped a six game losing streak by winning 3-1.
Even though he didn’t get the win, Ricky Romero had a very good day on the mound, giving up only three hits, one earned run, four walks, and struck out five batters in seven innings pitched.
The Jays jumped out in front in Sunday’s game in the first inning when Rajai Davis scored on a sacrifice bunt by Anthony Gose.
In the bottom of the second inning, Oakland tied it up 1-1 when Derek Norris drove in Brandon Inge with a double.
The Athletics went ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Josh Reddick hit a three run blast.
At the top of the fourth inning, though, Edwin Encarnacion hit a two run homer to close the gap at 4-3 Oakland.
The very next inning, the Blue Jays went ahead 6-4. First, Yunel Escobar drove in Davis and Gose with a single. Then Kelly Johnson drove in Encarnacion also with a single.
There was no scoring until the bottom of the seventh when Coco Crisp drove in Adam Rosales with a double to make it 6-5 Jays.
The game couldn’t have ended any more exiting than way this one did in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, one on base, Jemile Weeks lines out to Jay’s third baseman, Yan Gomes. Then Gomes throws to first base and doubles 0ff Eric Sogard to end the game.
Jays starteing pitcher, Aaron Laffey gave up six hits, four earned runs, one walk, and struck out four batters in six innings pitched.
The Jays now head off to Tampa Bay where they will face the Rays for three games starting Tuesday night.
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