THE ATHLETICS PREVAIL OVER THE BLUEBIRDS IN A LOW SCORING DEFENSIVE AFFAIR AT BICKFORD PARK
![ATHLETIC ACES > Three A's pitchers would combine to limit the Jays to three runs over four innings while ringing up ten K's. Charlie (7) [top] pitched two scoreless innings while striking out five; A's lefty reliever Sebastian (10)](https://torontoplaygrounds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/August-27-2015-Mosquito-As-Jays.jpg)
ATHLETIC ACES > Three A’s pitchers would combine to limit the Jays to three runs over four innings while ringing up ten K’s. Charlie (7) [top] pitched two scoreless innings while striking out five; A’s lefty reliever Sebastian (10) [bottom right] allowed two unearned runs while striking out three in the second; A’s reliever Sasha (14) [bottom left] allowed an unearned run in the third while striking out two.
The proceeding was a low scoring affair where pitching and defense dominated the majority of the play and any runs generated came at a premium. In fact, both teams combined for a total of fifteen strikeouts over the course of four frames.
After taking the throw from relief pitcher Josh (3), Jays catcher Lucas (1) tags out Owen (3) to erase his brazen bid to steal home with two outs in the top of the third inning.
Jays starter Matthew (11) would strike out one in the top of the first to keep the A’s off the scoresheet.
The inning was highlighted by a nifty defensive play by Jays shortstop Theo (2), who snagged a scorching hot tamale line drive off the bat of Jonah (1) in the shoestrings of his glove to rob the A’s batter of a sure hit and record the second out of the frame.
Athletics starter Charlie (7) would strikeout three in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the first to keep the Jays perched in their nest.
Exercising patience at the plate in the top of the second, the A’s would parlay four walks, a hit batsman and a pair of hits into four runs to take a 4-0 lead. After Owen (10) and Stefano (9) walked to put two ducks on the pond, Sasha (14) stroked a two out RBI single to plate Sebastian with the first run of the game.
After Eli (15) drew a walk to load the bases, Jonah and Daniel (4) garnered back to back RBI walks that allowed Stefano and Sasha to come home to roost. Charlie would follow with a bases loaded RBI single to bring Eli homeward.
Jays reliever Elliot (12) had a spirited foray on the mound in the second.
The frame was highlighted by another nice Jays defensive play when centre fielder Lucas battled the overcast skies to catch an eight mile high fly ball off the bat of Charlie to record the first out of the inning.
After taking receipt of the throw from reliever Sasha (14), A’s catcher Charlie (7) tags out a sliding Matthew (11) to nullify his bold bid to steal home in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the second, the Jays answered back with a pair to slice and dice the deficit to two. With two outs, Theo and Lucas (1) garnered a pair of walks. Both Theo and Lucas would turn on the jets and swipe a pair of bases to reach third and come motoring home on a pair of Jays errors.
Shaken, but not stirred, A’s southpaw reliever Sebastian (9) would find the groove and strike out three Jays in the second to quell the Bluebirds insurrection.
The Athletics would reply with a run in the top of the third to widen their advantage to 5-2. After leading off the inning with a single, Sebastian would steal second. On the same play, a Jays throw to nab him sailed into the outfield resulted in a two base error that allowed Sebastian to come home to roost.
Jays reliever Josh (3) would strike out two in the third to subdue the A’s rebellion.
Once again, the Jays defense shone brightly again during the inning. Hoping to catch the Jays snoozing with two outs, Owen made a brazen dash from third base in a bid to steal home. However, Josh noticed the grand thievery and made a rocket throw to catcher Lucas, who applied the tag on a sliding Owen to record the third out.
The Jays would add a run in the bottom of the third to trim the margin to 5-3. After a one out walk to Andre (6), Matthew would stroke a single. An A’s error on the play would open the pantry for Andre to motor home and Matthew to advance to third.
After taking the throw from first baseman Vincent (7), Jays second baseman Josh (3) tags out a sliding Daniel (4) of the A’s, who was attempting to stretch a single into a double in the fourth inning.
A’s reliever Sasha (14) would strike out two in the third to pacify the Jays mutiny.
The A’s defense shone during the inning. Hoping to catch the Athletics napping at the switch, Matthew made a brazen dash from third base in a bid to steal home. However, Sasha noticed the grand theft that was afoot and made a laser throw to catcher Charlie, who applied the tag on a sliding Matthew to record the second out of the frame.
With 1-2-3 finesse, Jays reliever Lucas (1) would strike out a pair in the top of the fourth to keep the A’s off the scoreboard.
The Jays D would turn a pretty 3-4 putout play during the frame to record the second out. After stroking a single, Daniel tried to stretch it into a double. However, a pinpoint bazooka throw from first baseman Vincent to second baseman Josh erased a sliding Daniel.
Reentering the fray in the bottom of the fourth, A’s pitcher Charlie would strike out two to seal the deal on the victory.
The A’s made a great defensive play during the inning when shortstop Sebastian made a nice catch on a rocky mountain high pop up off the bat of Lucas to chalk up the first out of the frame.