Blue Jays series recap: Jays collapse late in the first two games against Angels
Photo credit: © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
May 9, 2025, 20:45 EDTUpdated: May 9, 2025, 20:44 EDT
What a disappointing series that was.
Starting on Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays played a three-game series against the lowly Los Angeles Angels, dropping two of three and losing five of their last six series. The sad thing is, their two losses should’ve been wins as the bullpen imploded late.
The Angels and Blue Jays scored twice each in the first inning of Tuesday’s game. It took until the eighth inning for more scoring to occur, as Anthony Santander hit his fifth of the season to give the Jays a late lead. However, the ever-reliable Yimi García and Jeff Hoffman each gave up three runs, as the Jays fell 8-3.
Both teams didn’t score for the first five innings of Wednesday’s game, but the Jays opened the scoring thanks to an RBI single from Anthony Santander. That lead didn’t last long, as Yoán Moncada hit a solo blast. The Jays responded with three runs in the next inning thanks to clutch hits from Myles Straw and Bo Bichette, but the Angels cut the lead in half thanks to Kyren Paris’ home run. After the bases were loaded by Hoffman in the bottom of the ninth, he allowed a bases-clearing double to Jorge Soler for the walk-off win.
It looked as if the Jays were going to get swept by the Angels, as they were down 4-0 after two innings. They cut the lead in half with two runs in the top of the third. After Addison Barger hit an RBI single to make it a one-run game in the fifth, the Jays had a big top of the sixth to take a 7-4 lead. Logan O’Hoppe scored to make it a two-run game, but Daulton Varsho hit a solo home run, giving the Jays an 8-5 win.
Bichette and Kirk each had a rough series. Kirk slashed .250/.308/.250 with a 40 wRC+ in 13 plate appearances. On the other hand, Bichette slashed .143/.250/.143 in 16 plate appearances, although he did hit a clutch single in the second game of the series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Anthony Santander, George Springer, and Ernie Clement all finished with a wRC+ of 150 or higher, while Myles Straw had a good series as well. Andres Gimenez was injured in the second game, but he had two singles in seven plate appearances.
The starters weren’t great, but they also weren’t the reason the Jays lost this series. Jose Urena pitched 4.1 innings, giving up two earned runs. Jose Berrios pitched six innings, earning a quality start by giving up just two earned runs. Chris Bassitt’s first two innings were rough, but he gave the Jays six innings with four earned runs against.
Nope, it was the bullpen that ended up blowing the first two games of the series. Yariel Rodríguez had a good series, pitching three and one-third innings with no earned runs allowed. Chad Green picked up the save in the win, and Mason Fluharty pitched a clean inning. Jeff Hoffman allowed six earned runs in two-thirds of an inning, while García gave up three earned runs in a third of an inning.
As for the other relievers in this series, Brendon Little picked up a hold, striking out both outs he got without giving up a run. Eric Lauer and Dillon Tate each faced a batter, with Tate striking out his batter.
The Jays stay out west for the weekend, taking on the Seattle Mariners for a three-game series.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.