Athletics Fall Again, Lose to Blue Jays 11-7

A lot more fight in the team today

The Athletics made this one interesting as they fought all day against the AL East rivals, but they ultimately fell for the fourth straight time 11-7, falling to 23-35 on the year.

Early barrage of runs

The A’s struck first tonight against former starter Chris Bassitt. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom got into one in the top of the second, sending a Bassitt splitter over the right-center field fence to give the A’s an early lead:

The Jays would answer quickly against A’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs. After suffering through severe early-inning struggles during the first month of the season the left-hander seemed to have beaten back those demos. Unfortunately they resurfaced again tonight in his 12th start as he allowed six runs in the first three frames. Walks were again an issue for the 32-year-old. He’d manage to finish two full frames but nothing more, leaving seven innings to the bullpen.

Single runs in each of the next two innings cut into the Jays’ lead against Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt and the Athletics even managed to get within a run in the middle of the game. That was as close as they’d get though as the Blue Jays would add on three in the fifth and a couple more in the sixth to push it to an almost insurmountable 11-5 lead. The A’s tacked on a couple runs in the top of the ninth to make the finale score look more respectable than it actually was but this game was decided in the first few frames. At least we got to see Denzel Clarke’s talent in his hometown tonight:

The club is fighting for wins, that much is certain. How they’re able to get wins is the problem. One they hope to solve tomorrow afternoon in the third game of this four-game series against the Blue Jays. We should have a pitching duel on our hands as JP Sears gets the nod for the Athletics while former Cy Young contestant Kevin Gausman will take the mound for his 12th start of the year looking to build on a strong campaign so far.