Coming off the back of another mediocre week going 3-2 over the past 7 days, the Jays would turn their focus to the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics. With Toronto having a 11-12 record through 23 games this year, the Jays are going to need to start putting some wins together to keep up with the Red Sox in the A.L East. First up was a 3 game set against the Braves before hitting the road and going out to Oakland.
Game 1: Jays 13 – 5 Braves
The first game of the series was an all around great game by the Blue Jays. Robbie Ray had easily his best outing of the season, going 6 2/3 innings while only allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs. More importantly, it looked like Ray had his command back and didn’t walk a single batter. The Bats came out in a big way in this game also, with Toronto hitting 6 home runs, including 2 from Alejandro Kirk. The Blue Jays took control of this one early and never looked back.
Game 2: Jays 6 – 5 Braves
It was another bullpen game for the Jays, as 8 different pitchers would feature in this game. Toronto fell behind early as Tommy Milone would give up a grand slam to Brave centre fielder Christian Apache, but the Jays would battle back, George Springer would hit his first 2 HR as a Blue Jay and it would eventually force extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, with the bases loaded and two out, Randal Grichuk would be the hero with a would off single into centre field, giving the Jays the win.
Game 3: Jays 7 – 2 Braves
With a chance for their first series sweep of the season, the Jays capitalized. Ross Stripling gave Toronto a decent 4 1/3 innings, giving up 2 runs while the Jays bats kept chipping away before a 3 run 8th inning would seal it. Others things of note in this game, is Danny Jansen snapped an 0-35 at the plate, and George Springer was taken out of the ballgame after slipping out of the batters box on his 3rd at bat.
Jays Series Standout:
There are plenty of players who could’ve gotten it in this series, but I’m going to give it to George Springer for hitting his first 2 homers as a member of the Blue Jays.
Game 1: Jays 4 – 5 A’s
Unfortunately for the Blue Birds, they couldn’t keep the winning streak going in Oakland. The A’s got off to a good start, cashing in 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, but the Jays would answer right back in the top half of the 3rd inning with 3 runs of their own. However, a Ramon Laureano 2-run home run would give the A’s the lead for good, and spoiling Marcus Semien’s return to Oakland.
Game 2: Jays 1 – 4 A’s
The second game of the series was all about one guy, Cole Irvin. Irvin had an impressive outing, going 8 strong innings, while only giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run. All the A’s offense came in the 2nd Inning from Lowrie and Moreland. Another game where the Jays bats went absolutely silent, and they’ll need to straighten that out as soon as possible.
Game 3: Jays 9 – 4 A’s
This game would start off with both teams scoring twice in the 1st inning, and would stay that way all the way until the 6th inning, where Sean Murphy would single home the go ahead run to make it 3-2 A’s. In the 8th is where the Jays bats would come alive, and come up with 5 big runs, and they didn’t do it with the long ball, it was just good, timely hitting. Vladdy would double in 2 more runs in the 9th for extra insurance.
Game 4: Jays 10 – 4 A’s
This was the first game back for Hyun Jin Ryu, after having to leave his last start early with a glut strain. Ryu went 5 innings giving up 4 runs, while striking out 6 A’s. Randal Grichuk would have a monster game for the Jays as he would drive in 5 RBI’s which included a 3-run home run. Danny Jansen and Marcus Semien would also go yard for the Jays, earning them the series Split
Jays Series Standout:
Randal Grichuk was absolutely huge for the Blue Jays in this series, driving in 7 RBI’s in the two Toronto wins, and coming up with multiple clutch hits.
This was the first really solid week by the Blue Jays going 5-2, but still remain 2 games back of the division leaders Boston Red Sox. Next up for Toronto is a trip to Houston for a 3 game series before heading to Atlanta for another 3 game series against the braves.
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