The Blue Jays dropped into a tie with the Orioles for the AL wild-card spots.
Advertisement
Alex Cobb was fantastic working a season high innings (6 2/3) and pitches (93) in holding the Blue Jays to just one run on two hits while striking out four and walking three.
Stroman allowed three runs and four hits in six innings.
I like Estrada in the pitching matchup here, so I’ll go with the Blue Jays to get the finale victory. Not the stuff of a team that persists in maintaining it is entirely capable of catching Boston atop the division in the 18 games remaining. If Donaldson, who is clubbing.280/.400/.552 with 34 home runs and 92 RBIs in 2016, can’t be out there for this crucial stretch of the season, it’s obviously a big concern.
Donaldson missed Toronto’s 3-2 win over Tampa on Monday night and Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Rays.
Thanks to 38,338 of them taking in a Tuesday night affair against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre, the franchise surpassed the three-million mark in attendance for the first time since the 1993 campaign ended in a champagne shower. They failed to score more than three runs for the 21st time in their last 41 games.
Donaldson isn’t in the lineup for a third straight day.
The Blue Jays began Wednesday’s game promisingly, using small ball to manufacture their first-inning run against Cobb.
ATHLETICS 8, ROYALS 0: Yonder Alonso and Marcus Semien hit two-run doubles as Oakland beat Kansas City for the third straight game and further damaged the Royals’ postseason chances. “So we always know in the back of our mind we’re capable of hitting a deep ball, even if it’s late in the game or we’re behind by a little, that maybe we’ll come back”.
He had an MRI Wednesday and will travel with the team to L.A. Describing the injury as a gradual thing that suddenly intensified, Donaldson couldn’t say when or how it happened.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) celebrates with first baseman Edwin Encarnacion (10) after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
“We’re all struggling right now”, Estrada said.
Donaldson’s absence leaves a huge hole at the top of the Blue Jays’ lineup.
Despite poor performances against the rest of the AL gang (7-9 against both Boston and NY; 4-11 against Baltimore), the Rays managed to solve the Jays over and over again this season.
“I’m not going to change anything”, Estrada said.
“I thought it might have been the end of my season”, he said through a translator.
And in the Jays’ 8-1 loss on Wednesday, the Rays also managed to exploit what started as a terrific outing by Marco Estrada, and then had a field day against the five men called to the mound from the bullpen.
Martin said Stroman deserved a better fate.
Rays starter Drew Smyly (7-11) produced a similar line, pitching into the sixth inning before giving up a two-run home run to Martin and exiting with a 3-2 lead that held up for the win.
Advertisement
Toronto GM Ross Atkins said Donaldson will undergo an MRI for his hip, but is expected to be with the team for its seven-game, west coast road trip that starts Thursday in Anaheim. Estrada was flawless through three before giving up three runs and three hits in the fourth.
