April 21, 2019

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

There is good news and bad news from the Toronto Blue Jays' 5-4 win (and series sweep) over the Oakland A's on Sunday. The good news is that the Jays won, riding a hot Justin Smoak and are now just a game below .500 on the season with a record of 11-12. And that's before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) has been called up from the minors.

The bad news is that players have been dropping like flies with Matt Shoemaker going down yesterday and Aaron Sanchez leaving the game early early thanks to a broken fingernail. Freddy Galvis also came out of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, replaced by Richard Urena. The news only got worse after the game ended when word was released that Shoemaker's ACL is torn and he'll be out for the remainder of the season.

While the Blue Jays held on to win, they probably could have won by a wider margin as centre. fielder Ramon Laureano robbed Teoscar Hernandez of a home run, and Justin Smoak, who had singled the batter before, was doubled off trying to take second on a wild throw from Laureano back to first base.

Smoak, however, was 4/5 with a home run and two RBI on the day while Brandon Drury continues to work his way out of his funk, going 2/4 with a double and a run. Rowdy Tellez was 1/2 with a sac fly, an RBI, a walk and a run and Danny Jansen was 1/3 with a double and a walk. Freddy Galvis was 2/5 with a run and a stolen base before coming out of the game and Alen Hanson was 1/5 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run. Billy McKinney was 1/3 with a sac bunt.

Sanchez went four innings, walking three but he only allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in four innings before coming out of the game. Daniel Hudson went 1 2/3 innings, giving up a hit and striking out three before handing it over to Joe Biagini who retired all four batters he faced. Ryan Tepera, in just his second outing for Toronto this year, struggled, getting two outs but allowing three runs on a hit and two walks, forcing manager Charlie Montoyo to bring in closer Ken Giles with two outs in the eighth. Giles allowed the inherited runner to score but closed the door, allowing three hits and striking out one for his seventh save.

The Blue Jays are back in Toronto to face the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday with Trent Thornton scheduled to take the mound against Jeff Samardzija at 7:07 p.m.

There has also been a rumour that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be called up for Tuesday's game although that is still speculation and the Vladdy watch begins!

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The 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is available now! Visit the Handbook page for more information!