Blue Jays at Athletics
Late-inning collapses are becoming all too common for the Blue Jays, who blew their seventh save of the year in a 7-3 loss to the Athletics Tuesday. Toronto has lost three in a row following a four-game winning streak and is scoring just under four runs per road game this season. Oakland has been victorious in five of its last six outings, picking up all of those wins against American League East opponents.
Kelly Johnson, who was recently shifted to the lead-off spot, did all the damage for the Blue Jays by driving in all three runs. Johnson is 5-for-12 with four RBIs in his last three games. Brandon Inge was the hero for the A’s, hitting his sixth career grand slam in walkoff fashion Tuesday. Inge has hit homers in back-to-back games and has eight RBIs in that span.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (3-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Tyson Ross (1-2, 8.55 ERA)
Morrow didn’t need the Blue Jays’ shaky bullpen in his last start, pitching a complete-game shutout in a win over the Angels. The righty has allowed just one earned run on 15 hits in his last 21 2/3 innings of action. Even more impressive is the fact Morrow hasn’t walked a batter in his last two starts. He’s 3-0 with a career 4.01 ERA versus the A’s.
Ross has been hammered in his last two outings, giving up 16 earned runs through 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander is getting the call in place of Brandon McCarthy, who is resting with shoulder soreness. He has thrown just 1/3 of an inning against Toronto, giving up one run on two hits back in 2010.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Toronto tied with Los Angeles for the American League lead in blown saves last season (25). The Blue Jays jumped the Angels for most blown saves in the AL on Tuesday.
2. Oakland center fielder Yoenis Cespedes was scratched after suffering an injury during batting practice Tuesday. He is scheduled to have a X-ray on his left hand Wednesday.
3. Toronto continues its 10-game road swing in Minnesota for four games beginning Thursday. Oakland hosts Detroit for four games starting Thursday.