Oakland Athletics second baseman Jace Peterson (6) throws to first base to put out Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer after forcing out Jays’ Tyler Heineman (55) during the second inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sun Jun 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

Oakland Manhandled By Toronto 12-1

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (20-60) were looking to win game three in their series with the Toronto Blue Jays 43-36) no such luck as the A’s were whipped 12-1 by the Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The A’s won only one game on the six game road trip.

This game went sideways from the first inning. George Springer hit his 55th career leadoff home run and the Blue Jays were just warming up scoring two runs in the first. By the time the sixth inning roiled around, Toronto had built a 4-0 lead.

The A’s did get on the scoreboard for their lone score in the sixth. Tony Kemp hit a solo home run and that would be it for Oakland. They only had three hits in this lopsided game.

The Blue Jays were leading 7-1 going into the eighth inning. That inning proved to be their most lucrative of the game scoring five runs for the 12-1 final score. Toronto was hitting lights out and they were certainly helped along the way with all the walks that Medina was throwing their way.

Toronto pitcher Yusei Kikuchi stayed in the game for a season-high seven innings. Things did not go so well for Oakland with Luis Medina on the mound allowing four runs, three earned and 4 hits in five innings.

He walked seven batters which was a career -worst. His command was terrible today. In four May games he walked a total of seven so today was an absolute nightmare for him. He was relieved by Ken Waldichuk who did not fare much better allowing 6 hits and six runs in 2.1 innings.

There was not a whole of positives that we can draw from this game. It is one of those games you just want to put behind you.

The A’s will head home for yet another difficult series against the New York Yankees. Game one will be played at the Coliseum on Tuesday night. Paul Blackburn will take the mound for Oakland with a 0-0, 4.21 ERA. The Oakland offense will face Jhony Brito (4-3 ERA 4.89) who will get the nod for New York.