Blue Jays use walk-off error to subdue Angels to remain atop AL East

Edmonton Journal

2 days ago

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was given the night off because of a sore foot sustained when the New York Yankees were in town.
Article content
No one expressed any worry when word spread prior to Friday night's first pitch against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Article content
Article content
As it turned out, both the Jays and Angels put their best foot forward on a night dripping with drama and late-game suspense.
Article content
Not much separated the teams through nine innings, each scoring three runs on five hits, each committing one error.
Article content
The one difference involved L.A. leaving six runners on base compared to two by the Jays.
Article content
In extra innings, the Angels failed to score in the 10th inning.
Article content
Vlad Jr. was on deck in the home half, but his bat wasn't required because the Jays would win, 4-3, on a throwing error.
Article content
A walk-off error to maintain a grip on first in the AL East wasn't something anyone could have envisioned, but the Jays will take a win any way they can get it.
Article content
A revamped Jays lineup did feature the return of Bo Bichette, who hurt his knee during the warmups prior to the series opener against the Yankees.
Article content
Article content
Springer had a series for the ages against the Bronx Bombers, playing at a level that earned him World Series MVP with Houston.
Article content
In fact, it was Springer who produced the Jays' first hit off Angels starter Kyle Hendricks.
Article content
The Jays would get the game's first runner at third after Will Wagner led off the sixth inning with a double.
Article content
A Tyler Heineman sac bunt advanced Wagner, who would score on a Gimenez single.
Article content
Article content
Given the electric atmosphere of the previous four games, a letdown was inevitable.
Article content
Article content
When he was pulled, Hendricks had thrown a total of 82 pitches.
Article content
Lauer's pitching was clearly the story on the night.
Article content
Then came the home half of the sixth when the Jays began to flex their muscles, scoring three runs and aided by an Angels error.
Article content
Whether it was Bichette's absence during the Yankees series, the continued absence of Daulton Varsho (hamstring) and Anthony Santander (shoulder), the Jays have kept moving along.