Pro Sports

Guerrero Jr. helps Blue Jays split doubleheader with Angels

Posted August 11, 2021 7:00 am

By JOE REEDY

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. flips a baseball after catching a fly ball from Los Angeles Angels' David Fletcher during the third inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit an early RBI single and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-0 on Tuesday night to split an unusual doubleheader.

Justin Upton and Phil Gosselin each had two hits and two RBIs to help the Angels win the opener 6-3.

Toronto batted last and was the 'œhome'ť team at Angel Stadium in the first game, a makeup from an April 11 rainout at the Blue Jays' temporary home field early this season in Dunedin, Florida. In the regularly scheduled nightcap, the Angels were the home team.

The four-game series features the top two home run hitters in the majors, but Tuesday's twinbill didn't produce any long balls from Shohei Ohtani or Guerrero.

Ohtani, who leads the majors with 37 homers, led off the nightcap with a triple against Ross Stripling into the right-field corner. He came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning before Jordan Romano struck him out on a 99 mph fastball to end the game.

Guerrero, who has 35 home runs, gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single and then scored on Teoscar Hernandez's bloop single. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added a two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Guerrero had a huge fielding miscue in the first game when he misplayed Jo Adell's popup in the fifth inning. He was unable to track the ball behind first base and let it glance off his glove as two runs scored to extend Los Angeles' lead to 4-1.

Stripling was removed after the second inning of the nightcap due to left abdominal discomfort. Trevor Richards (1-1) worked two scoreless innings.

Los Angeles starter JosÃ© Suarez (5-5) yielded four runs and seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

UPTON, GOSSELIN DELIVER

Upton put the Angels on the board in the first game with a two-run single in the third. After the Blue Jays pulled to 4-3 in the fifth, Gosselin provided some insurance with a two-run single in the sixth.

Los Angeles right-hander Chris Rodriguez allowed only one run over four innings in his first career start at Angel Stadium.

Junior Guerra (3-2) got the win with a scoreless sixth, and Raisel Iglesias retired the side in the seventh for his 25th save.

Marcus Semien had three hits, including an RBI double in the third, for the Blue Jays.

Steven Matz (9-7) went 4 1/3 innings for Toronto. He was charged with four runs (two earned) and six hits. The left-hander struck out five and walked three.

TRAVELING HOME SHOW

Toronto joined the 1898 Cleveland Spiders and 1902 Cleveland Bronchos as the only big league teams to be the home team in four different ballparks during one season. However, the Blue Jays are the first team to play home games in four different states or provinces in the same season.

Although the Blue Jays batted last in the opener, all statistics and records will count as Angels home and Toronto road totals. According to baseball rules, the home team is based on the venue in which the game takes place.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: RHP Trent Thornton was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo as the 27th man for the doubleheader.

Angels: Rodriguez was the team's 27th man. ... RHP Griffin Canning will miss the rest of the season due to a lower back stress fracture.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays rookie RHP Alek Manoah (4-1, 2.58 ERA) faces Los Angeles for the first time in his career Wednesday. Angels RHP Dylan Bundy (2-8, 6.14) has allowed three earned runs over 10 2/3 innings in two starts since returning to the rotation July 29.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani follows through on a triple during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. commits a fielding error allowing two runs to score on a fly ball from Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Angels' Justin Upton, left, scores past Toronto Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire on a fielding error by Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. following a fly ball hit by Jo Adell during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani, center, is met at home plate by Juan Lagares after they both scored on a single by Phil Gosselin during the sixth inning in the first baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Steven Matz adjusts his cap as he is replaced during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Angels' Jose Iglesias (4) slides safely into third base under the tag from Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Breyvic Valera after a single by Justin Upton during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias celebrates the team's win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the first baseball game of a doubleheader on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Suarez throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani runs to first base as he grounds out during the third inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ross Stripling throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Baseball Content Providers MLB Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.