May 10, 2016
Encarnacion powers Jays' win over Giants
Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer, Aaron Sanchez struck out five over seven innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Monday night in their first visit to AT&T Park in nearly three years.
The Canadian Press
SAN FRANCISCO - Michael Saunders knows he is far from the first to stumble in San Francisco's expansive foul territory.
The Blue Jays came out on top, and that was the biggest thing Monday night.
In the sixth inning of Toronto's 3-1 victory against the Giants, the Toronto left fielder tried to chase down Brandon Crawford's foul popup, lost his footing over the bullpen mound and the ball ricocheted off his head as he slid on his knees toward the rolled-up tarp.
"I guess the one that hit me in the head is more funny than the one losing it in the lights," Saunders said, a good sport about his fall. "I tripped over the mound, every once in a while it happens. I guess you've got to learn to play around it. I know I'm not the first guy to ever have issues with the mound, nor will I be the last. This ballpark's been here a long time. It's just part of the park."
He was OK and stayed in the game.
"He's a hard-headed Canadian. That doesn't ever hurt any Canadians," manager John Gibbons quipped.
Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer, Aaron Sanchez struck out five over seven innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Monday night in their first visit to AT&T Park in nearly three years.
"(We) had a game plan. When we executed it, it was pretty much right on, when you don't execute it, that's what happened with the Encarnacion ball," Peavy said.
Toronto had gone back-to-back games without a home run for the third time this season, but Encarnacion's deep third-inning drive into the left-field bleachers kept the Blue Jays from doing so in three straight for the first time since Sept. 26-28, 2014.
Sanchez (3-1) allowed one run and three hits and walked one in a strong 105-pitch performance.
Encarnacion's sixth home run of the season moved him into a tie with Joe Carter for fourth place on the club's all-time list with 203.
Gavin Floyd pitched a perfect eighth and Roberto Osuna allowed Crawford's leadoff double before finishing for his seventh save. Toronto improved to 3-6 in San Francisco in the club's first visit to the Giants' waterfront ballpark since a pair of games in June 2013. The Blue Jays won for the seventh time in the last nine meetings with the Giants after a seven-game skid.
Peavy walked two of his five batters in the first inning while giving up a pair of singles, putting himself in an immediate jam. He allowed Saunders' RBI single but got out of the inning without further damage.
Peavy gave up three runs on five hits and struck out six in five innings.
The right-hander lost a start at AT&T Park for the first time since July 8, 2015. He had been 7-0 with a 3.41 ERA in 11 home starts since before Monday.
Andy Burns struck out as a pinch-hitter in Sanchez's spot in the eighth while making his major league debut.
STAY, JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER
Once the game ended, fans were invited to stay put in the stands and watch the end of the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors' overtime win at Portland in the Western Conference semifinals — and a handful took advantage of the offer — with seagulls swirling over the field as Stephen Curry dazzled through the Portland defence to give his team a 3-1 series lead bringing it back to the Bay Area for Wednesday's Game 5.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: LHP Brett Cecil was placed on the paternity list and RHP Ryan Tepera recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.
Giants: LF Angel Pagan will not be placed on the disabled list for now as he nurses a strained left hamstring that kept him out for the eighth straight game, though he was available as a pinch-hitter. ... RHP reliever Sergio Romo (pitching elbow) threw an easy bullpen session but "he's a ways away still," manager Bruce Bochy said. ... San Francisco recalled OF Jarrett Parker from Triple-A Sacramento and OF Mac Williamson was optioned to Sacramento. ... RHP George Kontos (elbow) will continue his minor league rehab assignment Tuesday after making his first rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (4-0) looks to win his fifth straight decision to start the year but has never beaten the Giants, going 0-4 in four starts. He was on the losing end of Matt Cain's perfect game at AT&T Park on June 13, 2012, while with Houston.
Giants: Cain opposes Happ again Tuesday night this time searching for his first win of 2016 after beginning 0-4.