(Toronto) When outfielder Teoscar Hernandez was placed on the disabled list with a pulled left oblique, the Toronto Blues Jays needed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. busy leading the attack on his people.
Posted at 5:52 p.m.
Gurriel once again sounded the charge and the Blue Jays defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Sunday.
Gurriel hit a single and a double, scored twice and drove in a run for the Torontonians.
“The fact that he’s on a good streak is very valuable to us,” Blues Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. It’s amazing what he’s doing right now. »
“Right now he’s doing the job of making sure that Vladdy [Vladimir Guerrero fils] have appearances at bat. »
Guerrero, who has hit five homers in his first eight games, was struck out three times in four at bats. However, this poor performance does not worry Montoyo.
“He’s one of those guys you can have fun with,” Montoyo said when asked if he’s spoken to Guerrero after his frustration following his third out.
“I can ask him, ‘Do you want me to take the role of emergency hitter for you?’ »
Canadian stopper Jordan Romano fired three flyouts for the Athletics in the ninth inning and recorded a major-high sixth save this season. He converted a 29and sequel attempt.
The victory propelled the Blue Jays (6-4) to the top of the American East Division and it was their best start after 10 games since 2018.
The Toronto squad scored a run in each of the first three innings and took a 3-0 lead against Athletics starter Adam Oller (0-1). The latter only pitched for three and a third innings.
A sacrifice to center field from Gurriel pushed George Springer home for the first run of the game. Springer had hit the trails due to an error by Athletics third baseman Sheldon Neuse.
In the second inning, Zack Collins doubled and crossed the plate when Santiago Espinal singled to center.
After two outs in the third inning, Gurriel doubled to left field and gave the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead on a Matt Chapman single.
Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah (2-0) served six innings. His streak in no-runs allowed to start the campaign ended at 10 when Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt homered in the fifth.
The Blues Jays have won their last 10 meetings when he started and went 18-4 overall in his young career.
“It’s quite pleasant, launched Manoah. I want guys to feel like I’m giving maximum effort, and I hope they can use that to motivate themselves. »
Sean Murphy reduced the gap to 3-2 thanks to a sacrifice for the Athletics (5-5).
By the end of the fifth inning, the home side regained their two-point lead. Gurriel singled and scored on a poor throw from shortstop Kevin Smith.
The Athletics did not give up and made it 4-3 in the eighth inning after a sacrifice from Seth Brown.
Ryu on the disabled list
The Toronto Blue Jays placed starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday.
Team management reported that the left-handed gunner is troubled by inflammation in his left forearm.
The 35-year-old Ryu was forced out of Saturday’s game after four innings on the mound. The Blue Jays suffered a 7-5 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
On April 10, in his first start of the season, he allowed six earned runs over three-and-a-third innings in a 12-6 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Winner of 14 games in 2021 with the Blue Jays, Ryu has just entered the third year of a four-season contract, worth $ 80 million, with the Toronto formation.
Left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki’s name has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list in time for the final of the three-game series against the Athletics.
Borucki was out with a right hamstring injury.