Late home run not enough to save Angels from loss to Blue Jays
Ernie Clement homered for the third time in his last three games and the Toronto Blue Jays used a five-run second inning to build an early lead and beat the Angels 5-3 on Thursday night.
Clement’s homer came on an out-of-the-strike zone, eye-level fastball from right-hander Mike Baumann. According to MLB, it was the second-highest pitch hit for a home run since pitch tracking began in 2008.
“I probably shouldn’t be swinging at pitches like that one,” Clement said. “I’ve struck out on that pitch a couple of times this year. I just try to get the barrel to the ball with two strikes.”
Angels manager Ron Washington offered a different take.
General manager Perry Minasian agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Angels as he continues to try to turn around the struggling club.
“Sometimes you do the impossible,” Washington said.
The Blue Jays, who swept a three-game road series against the Angels last week, have won four straight meetings and eight of 10.
Niko Kavadas hit a three-run home run, his first, off Toronto right-hander Tommy Nance with two outs in the ninth inning, but the Angels lost for the eighth time in 10 games hours after they announced a two-year contract extension for general manager Perry Minasian.
“We hadn’t scored a run in 17 innings and then we finally broke through,” Washington said. “Hopefully that gives us a boost for tomorrow.”
The Angels lost 3-0 at Kansas City on Wednesday.
Reliever Ryan Burr started for the Blue Jays, who pushed all their regular starters back a day to give them extra rest. Toronto and Boston are scheduled to resume a suspended game in the top of the second inning Monday before playing a second game later that day.
The right-handed Burr gave up two hits, exiting after Jo Adell singled to lead off the second. Adell finished three for four.
Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (5-2) followed with five shutout innings. Yarbrough gave up three hits, all singles. He walked none and struck out four.
“It was like Bob Ross,” manager John Schneider said of Yarbrough’s 60-pitch outing. “He was painting.”
Left-hander Brendon Little pitched the seventh and Nance worked the final two innings.
Brock Burke (1-1) started for the Angels, his first major league start since September 2019 with Texas. The right-hander gave up three runs and three hits.
Burke retired the side in order in the first and left after giving up three straight hits to open the second, including an RBI double by Alejandro Kirk and an RBI single by Will Wagner.
Clement greeted Baumann with a 380-foot home run to left, his 10th of the season.
Joey Loperfido followed with a triple and later scored on George Springer’s RBI groundout.
Making his first relief appearance of 2024 after a career-high 25 starts this season, Angels right-hander Griffin Canning took over in the third and retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced over six scoreless innings.
Injury update: Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak stayed in to run the bases after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch from Yarbrough in the third. Former Blue Jays star Kevin Pillar replaced Moniak in center field in the bottom half of the inning.
Up next: Right-hander Chris Bassitt (9-12, 4.34 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Friday night against Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (1-3, 6.53).
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