Kevin Gausman, rookie hitter lift Jays over Angels
Aug 14, 2024
Kevin Gausman threw seven scoreless innings and Will Wagner had two hits and two RBIs in his second major league game to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Gausman allowed six hits while striking out five and walking two during a 106-pitch effort. When the Angels did have scoring chances against him, Gausman shut them down, the Angels hitters going 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position against him and 0 for 6 in the game.
Wagner, who went 3 for 4 in his major league debut on Monday, followed it up by going 2 for 4, including a two-out, two-run double in the first inning that set the tone for the rest of the night.
Ryan Burr followed Gausman (11-8) and struck out the side in the eighth inning, and Erik Swanson allowed a solo homer to Willie Calhoun in the ninth for the Angels' only run.
Angels shortstop Zach Neto went 3 for 4, his fourth three-hit performance in the past seven games.
Blue Jays right fielder George Springer was ejected from the game during his at-bat in the seventh inning for arguing vehemently with home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez.
Springer appeared to be hit by a pitch on his right foot, but Gonzalez ruled the ball did not hit Springer. The Blue Jays challenged the call but after a replay review, the call was upheld. That set off Springer, who had to be held back by teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. while manager John Schneider argued with Gonzalez.
The Blue Jays, though, were comfortably ahead 5-0 by then.
Angels starter Carson Fulmer (0-3) sandwiched two walks around two outs in the first inning before Ernie Clement reached on an infield single, driving home Springer for the first run of the game.
That brought up Wagner, who fell behind in the count 1-2 before pulling an 85 mph changeup into the right field corner for a two-run double and 3-0 Toronto lead.
Guerrero and Spencer Horwitz hit back-to-back home runs in the third, increasing the Blue Jays' lead to 5-0.
Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and is 0 for 28 with 13 strikeouts in his last seven games.
--Field Level Media