The Toronto Blue Jays swept the season series (7-0) against the Los Angeles Angels after taking the finale by a score of 8-2. The Blue Jays played a three game series in Anaheim about two weeks ago and had swept the Angels then (August 12-14). With Saturday’s win, the Jays swept the Angels for a second time.
Kevin Gausman (11-9, 4.24) toed the rubber for the Blue Jays as Tyler Anderson (10-11, 3.46) took the bump for the Angels. Gausman did everything the Jays needed him to do, the veteran right hander lasted 7 innings, allowing just one run over two hits, walking none and punching out ten, taking his 12th victory this season. Anderson tossed 5 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out three, taking his 12th loss of the year.
The Blue Jays struck first, scoring one run on a bases loaded walk from Alejandro Kirk in the bottom of the 3rd.
The Angels tied the game at one in the top half of the 4th, when Zach Neto drove in Taylor Ward with an RBI single.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his hot streak in the bottom of the 5th, when he drove in George Springer with an RBI double, giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead.
The Jays would extend their lead in the bottom of the 6th, when Addison Barger hit a two run shot, his fourth long ball of the year, to give the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead.
The home run ball would continue to be what score runs, when Alejandro Kirk hit a two run homer of his own to extend Toronto’s lead to 6-1 in the bottom half of the 7th.
The Angels would score their second run of the game when former Blue Jay Brandon Drury hit a solo shot to cut the Jays’ lead to 6-2 in the top of the 8th.
Later on, in the bottom half of the 8th, the Blue Jays would score two more runs to extend their lead. Joey Loperfido drove in a run when he grounded into a force out. Vladdy then drove in another run of his own with an RBI single, making the score 8-2. The Blue Jays would hold on to sweep the Angels and secure an 8-2 victory.
The Blue Jays will head to Fenway Park to start their series with the Boston Red Sox. The Jays and Red Sox will play a doubleheader on Monday, with game one being a previous game that was suspended due to rain back on June 26. Game two will be a full game and will be played after the suspended game is finished. Game one on Monday will hold a historical event, where a player will play for two teams in the same game for the first time in MLB history. That player, is former Blue Jay Danny Jansen, who caught for Toronto back on June 26. Since then, Jansen was shipped off to Boston, and Red Sox manager confirmed that he will be taking the spot of another former Blue Jay, catcher Reese McGuire, making Jansen the first player in history to play for two teams in the same game.
Yariel Rodriguez (1-5, 4.40) and Kutter Crawford (8-11, 4.22) were the original starters for the Blue Jays and Red Sox when the June 26 game got suspended, so it is unsure who will pitch when play resumes for both sides. Jose Berrios (12-9, 3.79) will take the mound for the Blue Jays, while the Red Sox have not yet announced a starter for game two on Monday.
