Blue Jays Sweep Struggling Athletics
Apr 21, 2019, 4:28 PM | Updated: 4:32 pm
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
A’s Late Rally Isn’t Enough As Oakland Falls To 11-13
It was a rough weekend in Oakland.
The Oakland Athletics couldn’t get their offense going over the weekend as they were swept by the Toronto Blue Jays, scoring a combined six runs over three games. The cherry on top to a disappointing weekend was when starting pitcher Brett Anderson went down with an ankle injury during the third inning of Sunday’s game. Anderson, who gave up two runs over three innings, has been enjoying a comeback season with a 3-1 record and 3.04 ERA.
Anderson’s injury is considered day-to-day.
The Blue Jays jumped out to a 5-1 lead on Sunday, but the Oakland offense showed their first signs of life of weekend in the bottom of the eighth when they trimmed the lead to 5-4. In the ninth, the Athletics got the tying run on second base with one out but couldn’t convert as Toronto closed it out for a 5-4 final.
After starting the season with a 10-8 record, Oakland has dropped five of their past six games to slide to 11-13.
Marcus Semien went 2-for-4 for Oakland as he improved his batting average to .322 on the season, and Khris Davis went 2-for-3 while picking up his 21st RBI of the year. Ramon Laureano made another incredible play on Sunday, adding onto his impressive 2019 resume for a Gold Glove Award.
Saturday, April 20 – Blue Jays 10, Athletics 1
Mike Fiers got off to a rough start on Saturday as he gave up nine hits and six runs over 3.1 innings. Fiers has given up at least five runs per outing over his last three starts as his ERA is now up to 8.28 on the season.The Oakland offense could only scratch one run across the board as the Blue Jays pitching staff held the A’s to just six hits.
Friday, April 19 – Blue Jays 5, Athletics 1
Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman hurled 8 innings of one run ball as Toronto knocked off Oakland 5-1. The A’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead early via a Matt Chapman RBI double, but the Jays responded with a four-run second inning to take the lead for good. Stroman struck out six batters over eight innings while A’s starter Aaron Brooks gave up five runs over five innings pitched.
