Blue Jays lean on small ball in 8th-inning rally to upend Athletics
Toronto pushes across 5 runs on just 3 hits to take 1st victory of series in Oakland
Oakland's typically reliable bullpen faltered. The Blue Jays delivered with their bats despite more injuries.
Teoscar Hernandez hit a tiebreaking RBI single during Toronto's five-run eighth inning, and the Blue Jays beat the Athletics 9-4 on Wednesday night.
After George Springer went on the injured list earlier in the day, Toronto lost right-handed reliever David Phelps to shoulder discomfort and infielder Joe Panik, who hurt a calf muscle running out a grounder. Both were scheduled for further examination Thursday, with manager Charlie Montoyo expecting to be short-handed for the afternoon series finale.
Hernandez also had an earlier run-scoring single before coming through against Lou Trivino (1-1), who was tagged for five earned runs after allowing a total of three in his first 15 appearances this year.
"Everyone has a bad night. Tomorrow I fully trust Lou and Diek (Jake Diekman) and the back end of our bullpen," said starter Chris Bassitt, who settled for a no-decision.
Ramon Laureano and Matt Chapman homered for Oakland, and Sean Murphy had two hits and two RBIs.
The A's (19-13) are still tied for the best winning percentage in the majors after beginning the season 0-6.
Laureano went deep in the first after Bassitt fell behind 2-0 in the top half — but the right-hander bounced back to pitch a solid outing.
"I just didn't execute pitches. Bass threw a fantastic game," Trivino said.
"The guy's a first-class starter, he's everything you want in a starter. To give up two runs in the beginning of the game and then to dominate like he did it was fun to watch. It's a little disappointing I couldn't bring home the W."
Hernandez and Randal Grichuk hit RBI singles in the first inning before Laureano connected for the fourth time in five games. He had a single and double in his following two at-bats, collecting three of the six hits allowed by Robbie Ray in six innings.
🖐 Count 'em up 🖐 <br><br>We scored FIVE in the 8th! <a href="https://t.co/bYyCGSxiD1">pic.twitter.com/bYyCGSxiD1</a>
—@BlueJaysGrichuk added another run-scoring single in the decisive eighth.
"Good job by the offence to come back against good pitching," Montoyo said.
Bassitt struck out seven over seven innings. He allowed two runs for the fifth straight start.
Ray, who was looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time in 2021, struck out nine and walked none. Jordan Romano (3-1) followed with a perfect seventh for the win.
"Fastball command," Ray said of what's working for him. "That's been the biggest thing for me is being able to move that fastball around and place it where I want to."
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