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

National Post

19 hours ago

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was given the night off because of a sore foot sustained when the New York Yankees were in town.
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No one expressed any worry when word spread prior to Friday night's first pitch against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
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As it turned out, both the Jays and Angels put their best foot forward on a night dripping with drama and late-game suspense.
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Not much separated the teams through nine innings, each scoring three runs on five hits, each committing one error.
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The one difference involved L.A. leaving six runners on base compared to two by the Jays.
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In extra innings, the Angels failed to score in the 10th inning.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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He never started in any of the four games, but he did enter the series finale as a pinch-hitter.
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Springer had a series for the ages against the Bronx Bombers, playing at a level that earned him World Series MVP with Houston.
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In fact, it was Springer who produced the Jays' first hit off Angels starter Kyle Hendricks.
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The Jays would get the game's first runner at third after Will Wagner led off the sixth inning with a double.
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A Tyler Heineman sac bunt advanced Wagner, who would score on a Gimenez single.
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Given the electric atmosphere of the previous four games, a letdown was inevitable.
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Credit the faithful for applauding when it was warranted and for expressing its displeasure as well.
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As thrilling as the playoff-type buzz generated by the presence of the Yankees, the series did not feature high-end pitching.
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Eric Lauer and Kyle Hendricks certainly made up for it.
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Hendricks was relieved with one out in the sixth inning after he yielded a single to Springer.
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Through five innings, Hendricks limited the Jays to one hit. In the sixth, he gave up three.
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When he was pulled, Hendricks had thrown a total of 82 pitches.
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Lauer's pitching was clearly the story on the night.
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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.
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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.
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Not having Vlad Jr. in the starting lineup, in other words, was nothing to worry about knowing any lineup would somehow find a way to plate runs.