The Athletics need to find some pitching if they are to salvage the series finale against the host Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Jays have outscored the Athletics 31-14 in winning the first three of the four-game series. Toronto has won four straight overall.
The Athletics have lost five straight and 16 of their past 17 after Toronto held on 8-7 on Saturday. It was the second successive game in which the Athletics fell short despite scoring seven runs.
With an overworked and undependable bullpen, Athletics starter Gunnar Hoglund pitched six innings on Saturday despite allowing eight runs on 10 hits, including four home runs.
The Athletics went 7-21 in May and had major league worsts for the month with a 6.88 ERA and 56 home runs allowed.
In an effort to stem the flow of runs, the Athletics are scheduled to start left-hander JP Sears (4-5, 5.18 ERA) on Sunday. He is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings over three career games (two starts) against Toronto.
Toronto is expected to start right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-4, 3.68). In eight career starts against the Athletics, he is 2-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 50 1/3 innings.
The Athletics nearly pulled a dramatic comeback on Saturday. Brent Rooker, who was 3-for-4 with a walk, hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth against Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman.
Tyler Soderstrom, who hit a three-run homer in the first, followed with a double against Hoffman, but Shea Langeliers’ line drive up the middle was snared on a dive by second baseman Ernie Clement to end the game.
“They continue to go out and play hard,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “The result could have been much different today.”
Toronto native Denzel Clarke provided another highlight for the struggling Athletics with his first career homer, a two-run blast in the second. On Friday, he made a spectacular catch in center field to save a homer and notched his first career RBI in going 2-for-3 with a walk.
“It’s been awesome playing at home in front of family and friends again,” Clarke said.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, will be awaiting the results of an MRI on center fielder Daulton Varsho. He grabbed his left hamstring rounding second as he tried to stretch a double in the third inning, then hopped to third before falling at the bag and was tagged out.
He was able to walk off the field and was replaced by Myles Straw. The team said that Varsho had left hamstring discomfort.
“This is tough,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “He plays the game one way. It took the energy out of the game a bit.”
Varsho had shoulder surgery in September and missed the first 28 games of the season. He is slashing .207/.240/.543 with eight homers and 20 RBIs in 24 games and provides Gold Glove defense.
Varsho’s injury followed the first of George Springer’s two homers, with the other coming in the fifth.
Bo Bichette homered to become the first shortstop to reach the century mark in his Blue Jays career. Addison Barger also homered.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 1-for-4 and will take a 31-game on-base streak into Sunday.
Toronto recalled left-hander Easton Lucas from Triple-A Buffalo for Saturday’s game, with right-hander Jose Urena designated for assignment.
Lucas pitched 4 2/3 scoreless relief innings to earn the win.
–Field Level Media
