Jays aim to sweep Angels, complete perfect homestand
The Toronto Blue Jays will try to complete an undefeated seven-game homestand Sunday afternoon with a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels.
The Blue Jays won the first two games of their series against the Angels by the same 4-3 score, and each time in extra innings -- 10 innings on Friday and 11 on Saturday.
The Blue Jays opened the homestand with a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees that vaulted them into first place in the American League East. They have won seven straight overall and have opened a three-game lead in the division.
A big reason for the surge has been George Springer, who was 2-for-6 with a two-run homer on Saturday.
He has five homers in his past five games, the first time he has done so since 2017. He is batting .490 (24-for-49) with six homers and 21 RBIs over his past 13 games.
'He has been so big for us the past couple of weeks,' Toronto manager John Schneider said. 'He's still showing the league that he can do this.'
The Blue Jays eked out the win Saturday despite stranding 16 runners. They were 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position with Addison Barger having two of the hits, including an RBI single in the first and the game-winning RBI single with two out in the 11th.
While the hitters were stranding runners, Blue Jays right-hander Lazaro Estrada made his major league debut and pitched four innings to save an overworked bullpen. He allowed one run and two hits while striking out four.
'Our depth is really good,' Schneider said. 'It's a really fulfilling feeling for me, for the staff and, I'm sure, for the guys.'
The Blue Jays are scheduled to start right-hander Kevin Gausman (6-6, 4.18 ERA) on Sunday. He is 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA in 11 career starts against the Angels. He won both his starts against the team last season, posting a 0.64 ERA (one run over 14 innings).
The Angels hope to avoid a sweep with left-hander Tyler Anderson (2-5, 4.12) scheduled to start. Anderson is 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays, including a no-decision on May 6 of this season after giving up two runs over 6 2/3 innings.
The Angels continue to have problems cashing runners. After going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranding eight on Friday, they were 2-for-12 and left 10 on base on Saturday. In three extra innings in the series, they have not scored the runner placed at second. And twice they loaded the bases in the first three innings Saturday and came away with only a run each time.
'It is becoming a bit of a familiar thing,' interim manager Ray Montgomery said. 'We're putting guys on base, and we're giving ourselves so many chances. We are just not coming up with the big hit when we need it. To load the bases twice like that, and come away with two is kind of a little disappointing.'
Angels center fielder Jo Adell got the run home each time with a bases-loaded walk in the first and a sacrifice fly in the third. He went 0-for-3, however, to end his 15-game hit streak.
Angels second baseman Chad Stevens singled against Max Scherzer in the fourth inning for his first major league hit -- but was then caught stealing.
Toronto put reliever Yimi Garcia (sprained left ankle) on the injured list and recalled reliever Robinson Pina from Triple-A Buffalo.
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