Josh Donaldson began the day reminiscing about his former team and ended it by talking about the talented teammates on his current club.
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The Toronto Blue Jays headed west for Oakland this week after taking a three-game set from visiting Tampa Bay, punctuated by a 4-0 win over Rays ace Chris Archer, who had allowed a combined two runs in his previous four starts against Toronto. Donaldson doubled twice and drove in a run in his first game back in Oakland. Pillar’s first hit of the night, a leadoff double in the third, led to Toronto’s second run. “They’re unsafe and they’re just good hitters”. Bautista and Encarnacion each connected for a solo shot.
Beating Archer was well-timed as the Jays will face the Athletics’ two best starters in Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, followed by Mariners ace right-hander Felix Hernandez on Friday in Seattle.
So the route was unfamiliar, but when Donaldson finally did get to the stadium he called home for most of the past three seasons, he said: “My heart started fluttering a little bit”.
“Donaldson said to me last night on the bus, he said, ‘This is my town.’ I looked outside and I said, ‘I’m glad it’s yours not mine, ‘” Gibbons said.
Donaldson talked to a dugout full of media before the game, admitting to some nerves. “But I’m very grateful”. Martin’s home run, his 13th of the season, provided the crushing blow, following walks to Encarnacion and first baseman Justin Smoak.Bautista homered earlier in the inning.The A’s ended Buehrle’s shutout bid on left fielder Jake Smolinski’s RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth to get within 6-1.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on.
Bautista became the third player in franchise history to hit 20 home runs in at least six straight seasons, joining Joe Carter (seven) and Carlos Delgado (nine).
“I’m sure it’ll be good for the Oakland fans to get to see him and give him the welcome back that he deserves”, Vogt said. Buehrle has been dependable for the Blue Jays with eight consecutive quality starts to his credit.
Blue Jays seventh. Travis struck out. A’s CF Coco Crisp (cervical strain) took live batting practice before the game for the first time since going on the disabled list May 20…. Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte (strained right shoulder) will throw one inning right-handed for Class-A Stockton on Thursday…. In that time, they’re 7-12 with seven games of scoring two runs or fewer and a. 237 average to fall 4 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees. He had 15 strikeouts in 22 innings. He’ll try to secure his spot in the rotation after a rough outing in Kansas City before the All-Star break, when he allowed five earned runs – and seven total – in five innings.
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Seattle’s Hernandez is 1-1 with a 1.04 in his last four starts and a 7-3 mark at home this season with a 2.60 ERA. He finished fourth in A.L. MVP voting in 2013 and made his first All-Star team during a 2014 season in which he slugged 29 home runs with 98 RBIs for the A’s.
