Angels hang on to defeat Blue Jays
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jesse Chavez gave up one run in six innings and got help from three relievers as the Los Angeles Angels held on for a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night at Angel Stadium.
Chavez allowed a solo homer to Russell Martin in the fourth inning but nothing more as the Angels and Blue Jays split the four-game series.
David Hernandez, acquired earlier in the day in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, got two outs in the eighth inning in his Angels debut. Bud Norris pitched the ninth for his second save.
The Angels' offense couldn't muster much against Toronto starter Francisco Liriano but was able to do enough. Mike Trout tripled and scored on an Albert Pujols single in the fourth, and an RBI groundout by Yunel Escobar in the fifth provided Los Angeles with the winning margin.
It was an interesting series for Chavez, who pitched in 39 games for the Blue Jays last season. Chavez was originally slated to start Sunday's game, but instead was used out of the bullpen in the 13th-inning marathon on Friday.
Chavez gave up a three-run homer to Jose Bautista in the 13th inning and took the loss in that one, but he got the opportunity Monday to make up for it. He gave up only four hits but also walked four. He struck out seven, including getting Justin Smoak twice.
The Blue Jays had a potential rally snuffed out in the seventh inning after Chris Coghlan led off with a single against Angels reliever Yusmeiro Petit. Coghlan appeared to steal second on a pitch to Devon Travis, but plate umpire Toby Basner ruled batter's interference on Travis.
Replays showed that Travis hit Angels catcher Martin Maldonado in the back with the follow-through on his swing. That meant Travis was ruled out and Coghlan had to return to first base.
Blue Jays bench coach DeMarlo Hale, running the game for Toronto after manager John Gibbons had been ejected one inning earlier, came out to argue to no avail. The inning fizzled from there.
Gibbons was ejected after arguing with Basner when Martin was called out on strikes to end the sixth inning. It was the second ejection for Gibbons in two days. He was ejected in Sunday's game for arguing a quick-pitch call on Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman.
Liriano and Chavez matched each other zero for zero through three innings before both surrendered a run in the fourth.
Martin got a 92 mph fastball from Chavez right down the middle and didn't miss it, hitting it over the wall in center for his second homer of the season and a 1-0 Toronto lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Trout led off with a triple to right field, helped out when right fielder Jose Bautista slipped on the track when fielding the ball. Pujols followed with an RBI single to tie the score at 1.
The Angels took their first lead of the night in the fifth after Cameron Maybin singled and Danny Espinosa walked to start the inning. Martin Maldonado moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt.
With the infield playing in, Escobar his a sharp grounder to second baseman Devon Travis, who fielded the ball cleanly and threw home. However, the throw was low, causing Martin to have to short-hop the ball and then miss the tag.
The Blue Jays called for a review, but the call was upheld and the Angels led 2-1.
The Angels missed a chance for more, though, when Kole Calhoun popped out to shallow center and Trout struck out.
NOTES: The Angels acquired RHP David Hernandez from the Atlanta Braves in a trade for a player to be named or cash considerations. In seven games with Triple-A Gwinnett this season, Hernandez had a 1.12 ERA with four saves in eight innings pitched, with two walks and nine strikeouts. To make room on the roster for Hernandez, the Angels optioned RHP Daniel Wright to Triple-A Salt Lake. ... The Angels and Blue Jays have played each other 410 times since Toronto first entered the league in 1977. Each team has won 205 games.