Streaking Blue Jays hope for more generosity from Angels
The Toronto Blue Jays aim to extend their season-best winning streak to seven games in the middle game of a three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Saturday afternoon.
With the help of two key Los Angeles errors, Toronto won the series opener 4-3 in 10 innings on Friday. The teams have split four games this season.
Coupled with losses by the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, the Blue Jays stretched their lead in the American League East to two games.
The Angels' second error of the game allowed the winning run to score in the 10th. Pitcher Sam Bachman threw the ball wildly to first base on Ernie Clement's bunt, and automatic runner Myles Straw romped home to end the game.
It was the kind of break the Blue Jays have been getting on their recent surge, and they hope it continues on Saturday.
'Ernie just stuck his nose in there and got down a perfect bunt,' Toronto manager John Schneider said.
Winning a game with a bunt was something new for Clement.
'I've never done it,' he said, 'but we'll take it for sure.'
Schneider feels that the Blue Jays' ability to win in different ways will help them continue their roll.
'I think it's pretty sustainable when there's not one way to do it,' he said. 'Great offenses can score in a lot of different ways and they don't have one way to beat you.'
Another crucial Angels error allowed the final run to score in Toronto's three-run sixth. Shortstop Zach Neto botched a chopper that could have resulted in an inning-ending double play.
On the positive side for the Angels, Jo Adell hit a three-run homer to tie the game in the seventh and added a double while extending his hitting streak to 15 games. He is batting .373 (22-for-59) with three doubles, six home runs and 16 RBIs during the streak.
'He just keeps showing up, like we keep talking about,' Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said. 'He hasn't slowed down at all, and the bigger the moment, the better the result.'
On the down side, Adell struck out with the bases loaded for the third out in the eighth inning of a tie game. The Angels finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
'We left some guys (eight) on base,' Montgomery said. 'I know what's going through their heads. Guys are grinding. We're trying to get the best we can in those situations.'
Toronto is scheduled to start Max Scherzer (0-0, 4.85 ERA) on Saturday. The 40-year-old right-hander is 5-1 with a 2.33 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels.
Scherzer pitched exactly two innings in each of his two starts since returning from a three-month absence caused by a right thumb injury.
Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3-8, 5.44 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Angels. He has pitched just once against the Blue Jays, a no-decision last year in which he allowed three runs in six innings.
The Blue Jays had shortstop Bo Bichette (1-for-4 with an RBI) in the starting lineup on Friday for the first time since Sunday because of a sore knee.
Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not start on Friday but was ready to pinch-hit in the 10th. He had a sore foot after fouling a ball off it on Thursday.
Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez will have an MRI on his ankle. While running from first base when George Springer hit a sixth-inning single on Friday, Gimenez limped into third base, then was removed for a pinch runner.
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