SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Toronto Blue Jays have played some great baseball of late but Saturday night at Sutter Health Park, the Athletics outplayed them in every way.
On the mound, Jacob Lopez out-pitched Kevin Gausman, offensively the Blue Jays managed just three runs on six hits and they got in their own way defensively with three errors, all committed by Tyler Heineman. It added up to a 4-3 loss in front of 8,738 fans, as the Blue Jays fell to 55-40 on the season.
The Blue Jays got off to a strong start in this one thanks to a Leo Jimenez home run in the second inning, and a Bo Bichette RBI double in the third. But Gausman wasn’t especially sharp and the offence managed little in the middle innings, allowing the A’s to beat the Blue Jays for the first time in six attempts this year and even this weekend series 1-1.
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Of the three errors from Heineman made, two happened on catcher’s interference. Catchers position themselves closer to the plate now in an attempt to receive the ball better and steal extra strikes by presenting the ball better to umpires. Of course that approach becomes self defeating when catchers get too close and hitters clip their gloves, leading to free bases.
Heineman also made a throwing error, though to his credit he did catch Lawrence Butler stealing and make a remarkable grab on a foul tip in the bottom of the sixth inning. With Tommy Nance pitching, Max Muncy swung and tipped a ball into Heineman’s glove for a third strike. The ball popped out of Heineman’s glove and fell toward the ground, at which point the catcher dove forward to catch it for the out.
One way or another, the catcher they call the magician was in the middle of everything Saturday — it just wasn’t one of his better performances.
As for Gausman, he pitched five innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned. The Athletics connected for five hits against the right-hander, including a Brent Rooker two-run home run, as his season ERA climbed to 4.19.
Gausman’s pitch count climbed quickly, prompting his exit after just five innings and 96 pitches, and while he generated 11 swinging strikes he only struck out two A’s compared to two walks.
The Blue Jays rallied late, pulling to within one on an Alejandro Kirk sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, but Addison Barger and Jimenez each struck out with Bichette on third to end the rally. Then Mason Miller entered in the ninth and shut the Blue Jays down with 103 m.p.h. heat to secure the win, stranding a Joey Loperfido walk on second base.
On Sunday, the Blue Jays will look to rebound from the loss and finish the first half of the season with a series win behind starter Jose Berrios.
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