The Toronto Blue Jays claimed their sixth consecutive victory Friday night with a 4-3 extra-innings win over the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre. Myles Straw scored the decisive run in the bottom of the tenth inning on a throwing error by pitcher Sam Bachman, lifting the Blue Jays to their 30th home win of the season. Oddsmakers had the Blue Jays as -160 favorites entering the game, while the Angels were listed at +135.
Straw, who began the tenth as the automatic runner on second base, broke for third when Ernie Clement laid down a sacrifice bunt. Bachman fielded the ball but threw wide of first base, allowing Straw to score without a play at the plate. The error concluded a closely contested game that featured a late rally by the visiting team and marked the Blue Jays’ second straight extra-inning contest.
Bachman, charged with the loss and falling to 1-2 on the season, walked Nathan Lukes to begin the inning before Clement’s bunt. Toronto reliever Chad Green earned the win, improving to 3-2 after pitching a scoreless top of the tenth.
The Angels had evened the score at 3-3 in the seventh inning, when Jo Adell connected for a three-run home run off reliever Nick Sandlin. The homer, Adell’s 19th of the season, followed back-to-back singles from Mike Trout and Taylor Ward that chased Toronto starter Eric Lauer from the game.
Lauer had been effective early, retiring the first 12 batters he faced before Adell led off the fifth with a double. Adell was initially called out trying to stretch it into a triple, but the call was reversed on review. During the play, Adell was struck in the face by a tag attempt from Andrés Giménez, who later left the game with a left ankle injury.
Giménez, who had already missed Thursday’s game due to ankle discomfort, provided an early offensive spark for Toronto. He drove in the first run of the game in the sixth inning with a single that brought home Will Wagner, who had doubled to lead off the frame. Giménez advanced to third on a single by George Springer but was replaced after the play due to the injury.
Bo Bichette added an RBI single later in the inning, and a third run came across on a fielding error by Angels shortstop Zach Neto on a ground ball by Addison Barger.
Los Angeles reliever José Fermin replaced starter Kyle Hendricks following Springer’s hit. Hendricks was charged with all three runs during his outing. The Blue Jays held a 3-0 lead until Adell’s game-tying homer in the seventh.
Toronto will look to continue its strong form on Saturday with right-hander Max Scherzer (0-0, 4.85 ERA) set to start. The Angels must counter with right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3-8, 5.44 ERA).
