The Blue Jays got back on track today and established new season highs with nine runs and 13 hits, thanks to contributions from all over the lineup. As Sean touched on in Friday night’s recap, a late offensive outburst did indeed carry over to Saturday afternoon. A strong seven inning effort from J.A. Happ (who’s now worked at least 6 innings in every start) and two uneventful innings from Gavin Floyd gave the team more steady pitching while the Jays pounded Oakland’s Chris Bassitt and Liam Hendriks to take game two of the series. All told, Happ’s final line reads: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1BB, 1K on 92 pitches, 59 strikes.
Top Play of the Game by WPA
Josh Donaldson brought the rain in the 2nd inning, with his 3-run home run ending up as the top WPA play of the day (.104 WPA). Kevin Pillar singled to left and advanced to third on a ground rule double from Ezequiel Carrera before Donaldson would smash a home run to deep center field.
Bottom Play of the Game by WPA
Trailing 5-1 in the top of the 4th, Khris Davis would step to the dish with two men on and none out. He’d hit a grounder to Troy Tulowitzki who turned a double play with help from Ryan Goins and Justin Smoak. The double play decreased Oakland’s win probability by 9.1% (-.091 WPA). The A’s would get a run in the inning, but the double play all but erased any chance for the A’s to hang a crooked number while the game was still close.
Rejuvenated Lineup
Despite the presence of Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, yesterday’s lineup resembled a relative skeleton crew by the end of the game with Michael Saunders, Troy Tulowitzki, and Russell Martin (who started the game, but left with neck tightness) on the bench. While Saunders remained sidelined for the afternoon affair, Tulowitzki and Martin returned and left their imprints on the game. Both reached on infield singles in the first, thanks in part to some of the suspect defense we discussed in our preview, with Martin’s knocking in a run. Tulowitzki hit his third home run of the season on the first pitch of the 5th, connected on another in the 7th, and had a hand in all three double plays the Jays turned today. Ezequiel Carrera connected for four hits, a stolen base and two diving catches in left field. Kevin Pillar and Donaldson also racked up multiple hits, with the reigning MVP notching his AL-leading 7th home run on his way to four RBI. Bautista would tack on a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout, with the team effort serving as a reminder that the historically good offense of 2015 is still here despite a slow start to the year. Donaldson capped off the game as only he can: with a tremendous bare-handed grab and throw to first to lock down the W.
Bad Blood?
In the bottom of the 6th, old friend Liam Hendriks drilled Donaldson in the leg on the first pitch of his at bat. J.A. Happ responded by drilling Khris Davis in the top of the 7th, prompting a warning from home plate umpire Chris Conroy. Hendriks’s pitch may not have been intentional but Happ responded in kind, so whether or not there’s any carryover to tomorrow is what’s worth looking out for.
Up Next
The Jays gave fans a glimpse of the firepower that was expected out of the gate, and they’ll look to keep it going tomorrow when they try to take the rubber game of this set against Oakland. Left hander Eric Surkamp will take the mound against Drew Hutchison, who will make his season debut in a spot start for the Jays. First pitch is at 1:07.
Lead Photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports