Blue Jays fall to Angels despite strong performance by Stroman

Marcus Stroman took a hard-luck loss after posting a quality start against the Angels. Photo: Matt Antonacci

June 18, 2019

By J.P. Antonacci

Canadian Baseball Network

A pair of gopher balls served up by Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman proved to be the difference as Toronto’s anemic offence mounted little challenge against the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday night.

The punchless Jays mustered just three hits, falling to the Halos 3-1 at Rogers Centre.

It was a hard-luck loss for Stroman, who allowed three runs on four hits and a walk over seven-plus innings, departing after Angels catcher Kevan Smith reached on a dribbler down the third base line that stayed fair to lead off the eighth. Smith later came around to score.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo lifted right-hander Marcus Stroman with one on in the eighth inning. Photo: Matt Antonacci

Stroman saw his record fall to 4-9 despite posting a 3.23 earned run average on the season.

“He pitched a lot better than his record shows. We all know that,” said Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. “He gives us a chance to win every time.”

Stroman also gave Toronto’s beleaguered bullpen a breather one day after starter Edwin Jackson only recorded two outs in a 10-5 loss to open the homestand.

There were fewer fireworks on Tuesday, but the result was the same.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. high fives Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) after hitting a solo home run against Angels starter Tyler Skaggs. It was the only offence the Jays would muster in a 3-1 loss. Photo: Matt Antonacci

Angels starter Tyler Skaggs set down 11 Blue Jays in a row before Lourdes Gurriel Jr. deposited an 0-1 pitch into the left field bleachers to give Toronto the lead in the bottom of the fourth.

But Stroman gave the lead right back in the top of the fifth. Los Angeles slugger Kole Calhoun drove a 2-2 pitch off the right field foul pole to tie it at 1, and two batters later Brian Goodwin launched a solo shot to left to make it 2-1 Angels.

Skaggs hit a snag in the fifth as Randal Grichuk led off with a single and the next batter, Rowdy Tellez, snuck a ground ball through the right side. But Calhoun came up throwing and gunned down an overeager Grichuk trying for third.

Freddy Galvis then reached on a grounder that clanked off shortstop Luis Rengifo’s glove for an error, putting runners on first and second with one out. With a rally brewing, Rengifo was immediately given a chance to redeem himself when Danny Jansen smoked a line drive right at the Angels shortstop, who alertly fired to Tommy La Stella at second to double off Tellez and end the threat.

Skaggs allowed three hits in all, punching out six Jays and walking none over 7 1/3 sparkling innings. He improved to 6-6 with the win, which also brought the Angels up to the .500 mark at 37-37. The loss dropped the Jays to 26-47.

Angels closer Hansel Robles pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 11th save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) had a quiet day out of the designated hitter spot, going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.