The Oakland Athletics once again salvaged a win to close out a three game series as they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 in a Thursday matinee. A’s starter Trevor Cahill outdueled Ricky Romero, striking out four over eight innings and holding the Blue Jays to one run. The A’s got just enough offense and their fielding did not betray them in victory.
The Blue Jays got on the board first with a run in the sixth inning. J.P Arencibia lead off the inning with a double, but it looked like Cahill would escape with no damage as he struck out the next two hitters. However, Jayson Nix singled to score Arencibia and give the Blue Jays the 1-0 lead.
It appeared as though the lead might hold up, but the A’s managed two runs in the eighth inning. Andy LaRoche doubled to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to third by Cliff Pennington. Jason Frasor relieved Romero at this point and struck out Coco Crisp. Unfortunately for Frasor, the pitch was wild and got past the catcher. Crisp got to first base and LaRoche scored to even the game at one. Crisp then stole second and third around a Barton strikeout, and then scored on a Conor Jackson single.
The A’s have a quick turnaround as they’ll travel to Minnesota to face the Twins in a three-game weekend set starting tomorrow. We’ll see if the A’s can get some consistent defense finally.