Blue Jays shut out Tigers again

Right-hander Aaron Sanchez hurled five shutout innings for the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Photo: Jay Blue (file photo)

March 30, 2019

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

Justin Smoak hit the Toronto Blue Jays' first home run of the 2019 season on Saturday, while Aaron Sanchez came out of the gate with a strong performance as the Blue Jays shut out the Detroit Tigers for the second time in a row, winning 3-0.

Smoak capped a three-run fourth inning, hitting a two-run home run that followed Billy McKinney's RBI single that scored Brandon Drury's leadoff double. McKinney was thrown out at second base on the play by right fielder Nick Castellanos to clear the bases but Teoscar Hernandez took a walk and Smoak hit a home run to left to make the score 3-0.

Aaron Sanchez got into trouble int he first, giving up two hits in the inning but managed to work his way out of it and, while he walked Christin Stewart (the Opening Day hero for the Tigers) to start the second, Danny Jansen retired him as he tried to steal third with one out. Two more runners were aboard in the third as Sanchez walked a batter and allowed a single to Miguel Cabrera but again, left with no damage after Jeimer Candelario flied out. Sanchez had a clean inning with two strikeouts in the fourth and walked his third batter in the fifth inning, leaving after five innings and 90 pitches with just three hits against him, three walks and six strikeouts.

Tim Mayza followed with 2/3 of an inning, striking out one and walking one while Daniel Hudson got some redemption, throwing an inning and giving up a hit while striking out two. Joe Biagini finished the seventh and pitched the eighth, retiring all four batters he faced, striking out two while Ken Giles earned his first save of the season, striking out two and giving up a hit in the ninth.

Richard Urena, making his first start, was 1/2 with a sacrifice bunt while Smoak was 1/3 with a walk, the home run and two RBI. Billy McKinney was 1/3 with an RBI and a walk and Brandon Drury was 1/4 with a run. Teoscar Hernandez walked twice, going 0/2 and Danny Jansen was 1/4 with the caught stealing. Freddy Galvis also pitched in a double.

Trent Thornton makes his major league debut Sunday at 1:07pm, facing Matt Moore of the Tigers in the final game of this series.

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