Manoah quiets Athletics offence, leads Blue Jays to series victory

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. struck out a single, double, two runs and drove in another as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Sunday.

Jordan Romano, Toronto’s Canadian close, made three fly balls in the ninth inning. This was his Major League Baseball-leading sixth save. It also marked his 29th consecutive save.

The Blue Jays (6-4), who won the game, moved to the top in the American League East standings. This was their best start since 2018, when they won six of their first ten games.

The Blue Jays scored a run each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead on Adam Oller (0-1). He was only able to last 3 1/3 innings.

Gurriel sacrificed to the centre field for George Springer, who was hit by a pitch from Sheldon Neuse and reached base on an Oakland third baseman’s error. This gave rise to the first run.

Zack Collins’ leadoff double allowed the designated hitter, Santiago Espinal, to score on Zack Collins’s single to center in the second innings.

Shutout streak snapped

Gurriel scored with two out in the third. Matt Chapman scored with a single to left center.

Alek Manoah (2-0), Blue Jays pitcher, lasted six innings. He struck out six batters but his season-opening shutout streak of 10 innings was ended when Stephen Vogt, Oakland catcher, hit a homer in straightaway centre. This led to the fifth inning.

Sean Murphy’s sacrifice fly brought in another Athletics (5-2) run in the ninth inning.

Toronto scored a run in the fifth, when Gurriel singled. Then, a throwing error by Kevin Smith from Oakland scored Toronto.

With a sacrifice fly by Seth Brown, the Athletics scored in the eighth.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of Toronto, a Toronto slugger, hit five homers in the first eight games and struck out three more times.

Buck’s bad news

Buck Martinez, a Blue Jays veteran broadcaster announced that he had been diagnosed as a cancer patient before the game. Because of this, he will no longer call games for a while.

The former Blue Jays manager and catcher, 73 years old, shared his health news via Sportnet’s Twitter account.

Martinez stated, “I have been so honored and privileged to receive the support of Blue Jays players, colleagues, staff, and staff since my arrival here in 1981. That continued support through the next challenge means the whole world to me.” said.

Double trouble

Collins’ double in 2nd inning pushed the Blue Jays’ streak of consecutive doubles to 30 games. It is now the longest streak for the team since 31 straight (April 10 to May 12 2015).

Toronto will be off Monday before the Blue Jays begin a three-game series at Fenway Park, Boston, on Tuesday. In the opener, Blue Jays lefty Yusei Kikichi (0-1; 5.40 ERA), followed by Jose Berrios (00-0, 11.81 ERA) and Kevin Gausman (0-1: 4.22).