Blue Jays leave hurler ‘Happ-less’
Strong start wasted as Oakland roughs up closer for 5-1 win
TORONTO — Before the game, John Gibbons was discussing the reasons that J.A. Happ typically hits the 100-pitch mark in the fifth inning or shortly thereafter.
The Toronto Blue Jays manager observed that the tall lefthander has never been known for pinpoint command. But Gibbons cited another reason, too. Happ gives up lots of foul balls.
So right off the bat, Oakland leadoff batter Chris Young battled Happ through a 10-pitch at-bat, working the count full and fouling off four pitches along the way.
Then Young hit a home run into the second deck, giving the A’s a lead that held up through seven innings. But after Toronto tied it in the eighth, the A’s roughed up closer Casey Janssen for four runs on their way to a 5-1 victory. Oakland won three of four in the series.
The outcome renewed concerns about Janssen, who has pitched exceedingly well this season even though his surgically repaired shoulder is not at full strength. Meanwhile, Happ logged his best start of the season, just a week after finishing a three-month stint on the disabled list.
“I just overall wasn’t very good,” said Janssen, who allowed four hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. In his previous outing Saturday, he struggled to record his 21st save.
The past several days have been emotional for Happ, who will leave the team today to attend the funeral of his grandfather. “I definitely had a heavy heart, but I tried to use it,” he said. “I probably had a little bit of a different attitude, a little different outlook, given the last few days.”
At that, he took a long pause to compose himself.
“Be glad to get with family this week,” he said, his voice breaking slightly.
Happ allowed three hits and one run in seven innings. He threw 116 pitches. Foul balls accounted for 29 pitches, or 25 per cent of his pitch count. He gave up 15 foul balls in the first three innings.
He became more efficient as game wore on, after throwing almost half of his pitches in the first three frames.
Over the past seven seasons, including this one, 18.7 per cent of Happ’s pitches have resulted in foul balls, according to data compiled by BrooksBaseball. net. Gibbons said Happ tends to make batters chase high fastballs, which are tempting but tough to hit hard. As a result, many are fouled straight back.
“If a ball is up here, it looks good, but you can’t always square it up,” Gibbons said. “If you get enough of them, you get a lot of foul balls.”
Janssen is probably growing tired of being asked about the condition of his shoulder, but acknowledges he’s looking forward to an off-season of rest and rehab using a weightedball program. The shoulder simply lacks its former zip, he says. He relied on command and changes in velocity for his success this season.
After a frustrating seven innings, the Jays tied the score against starter Dan Straily in the eighth. But Janssen could not hold the fort in the ninth. The big blow against him was a two-run double by Alberto Callaspo, whose fielding error had let the tying run score a few minutes earlier.
The Blue Jays open a threegame set against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
Happ was originally scheduled to start Tuesday, but the Jays switched him to Monday’s matinee to allow him to attend his grandfather’s funeral. With Happ on bereavement leave, the Jays will recall Todd Redmond from Buffalo to start Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox.
Josh Johnson, who experienced forearm stiffness after his last start, was switched from Monday to Wednesday to give him more rest. Gibbons said the injury is not considered serious.
He also said centre-fielder Colby Rasmus got the day off because he “tweaked his ab a little bit” on Saturday.