ANAHEIM, Calif. – Among the most pressing items the Toronto Blue Jays had yet to accomplish this season heading into Monday night’s series finale versus the Los Angeles Angels were winning consecutive games and winning a series, something a single victory would take care of.
But in the midst of a pretty good pitcher’s duel, a pretty bad ump show broke out featuring Toby Basner – whom you might remember from such previous ump shows as Josh Donaldson, last May – and another Blue Jays win streak ended at one after a 2-1 loss.
A late rally attempt went for naught as Justin Smoak opened the ninth against Bud Norris with a single and Russell Martin followed with a walk, but after Chris Coghlan fouled off two bunt attempts ahead of a check-swing strike out on appeal, Devon Travis bounced into a game-ending double play.
That meant a split for the 5-14 Blue Jays before they headed to St. Louis for a three-game series in which they’ll see Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez and Adam Wainwright. Fun times.
While both teams had ample reason to complain about the strike zone, things got testy in the top of the sixth, when after a two-out Smoak walk, Martin took a full-count strike three that was egregiously out of the zone. Martin, who is generally understanding of umpires and tries to maintain cordially professional relationships with the men in black, stood at the plate in disbelief and briefly complained to Basner before walking away.
As he did, manager John Gibbons muttered something from the dugout, pointed to his wrist and immediately got chucked for a second straight day, this time by an entirely different umpiring crew. At least they kept one streak going, as the previous group gave him the heave for arguing an illegal quick pitch call against Marcus Stroman.
Things got weirder in the seventh, as Coghlan led off with a single, broke for second and slid in safely as Devon Travis swung through a changeup. But Martin Maldonado ran into Travis’ bat on a natural follow through as he rose to throw and Basner called Travis out for batter interference, sending Coghlan back to first base.
Travis argued, bench coach DeMarlo Hale charged out of the dugout and got heated, but Basner held firm, even after crew chief Jerry Layne joined the discussion.
The Blue Jays rally immediately fizzled – Travis might have been able to advance Coghlan to third with one out – and an Angels bullpen that makes no game feel out of reach managed to hold this one down.
Still, as dodgy as things got with Basner, the Blue Jays certainly didn’t help themselves.
In the eighth, Ezequiel Carrera opened the inning with a single and after Jose Bautista popped up and Kendrys Morales flew out, got picked off by David Hernandez. Kevin Pillar was also caught stealing by several feet after a leadoff walk in the first.
Trying to make things happen is good, but giving away outs is not.
The decisive run against Francisco Liriano – who allowed two runs in 5.1 innings on five hits and four walks – came in the fifth when with runners on second and third, the infield in and one out, Travis fielded a Yunel Escobar grounder but made a poor throw home, allowing Curtis Maybin to just sneak in safely and break a 1-1 tie.
Martin’s solo shot in the top of the fourth off Jesse Chavez had given the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead that didn’t survive the inning. Mike Trout opened the bottom half with blooper down the right field line and a hard-charging Bautista slipped as he tried to plant for a throw in, allowing the AL MVP to reach third. Albert Pujols immediately knocked him in to tie things up.