Errors prove costly for Blue Jays
Toronto drops 4-2 decision to visiting Pittsburgh
TORONTO (CP) — Friday night was a learning experience for young Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Rob Refsnyder. The 26-year-old made a pair of errors in the third inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-2 victory at Rogers Centre.
“It was a tough night for him, nobody feels worse than him,” said Toronto manager John Gibbons. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. Definitely wasn’t from a lack of effort, that’s for sure.”
After John Jaso was hit in the foot by a pitch, Frank Cervelli reached throwing error by Refsnyder, which allowed Jaso to advance to third.
A second error by Refsnyder allowed Adam Frazier to reach while scoring Jaso from third. Josh Harrison delivered an RBI single and Andrew McCutchen drove in Frazier on a double to right field
Josh Bell concluded the four-run inning with a sac-fly scoring Harrison.
Canadian-American right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-5) went six innings and struck out seven while issuing one walk for the Pirates (58-58), who have now won six of eight and remain in the hunt for top spot in the N.L. Central. Felipe Rivero pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.
“We had trouble in that third inning obviously,” said Gibbons. “But (Stroman) did a hell of a job. Even Taillon did a good job too and then their bullpen. He matched him, he had a good breaking ball, change-up (and) he has a good arm on top of that. He was really good.”
Stroman (10-6), who was 3-1 with a 2.24 earned-run average over his last eight starts, went eight innings allowing four unearned runs on four hits while striking out four and walking one. The Blue Jays (54-61) have dropped three of five.
“I did my best job to battle, defence has my back all year, they’ve made unbelievable plays for me all year,” said Stroman of the third inning. “I felt like I should’ve done a better job in that situation in buckling down and get my team out of that.”
NOTES: Blue Jays C Russell Martin left the game in the second inning with a left oblique strain he will undergo an MRI on Saturday . . . . RHP Chris Rowley will make his major league debut when he starts for Toronto today.