TORONTO -- The anxiety of being in the majors is wearing off, and Parker Bridwell says he's starting to feel comfortable on a big league mound.
The results sure back him up.
Bridwell pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings to win his third straight decision, C.J. Cron hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 on Friday night.
"I'm just having a good time," Bridwell said after allowing two runs or fewer for the sixth time in eight career outings. "Every start, my objective is just to keep the team in the game. Once you do that, you have a better chance of winning."
Angels manager Mike Scioscia praised Bridwell for sticking with his strengths.
"Pretty much every time out he's pitching his game and letting other hitters try to adjust to him," Scioscia said. "He's using all of his stuff and keeping them off balance. He did a good job tonight, obviously."
Kaleb Cowart, who had three hits, said he's happy to see his former minor league teammate Bridwell, find success.
"I played behind him a few times in Triple-A," Cowart said. "He's got electric stuff and works quick. He's the kind of guy you want on the mound."
After being swept in a three-game series at Cleveland and falling a season-worst five games below .500, the Angels snapped their slump by winning for the 12th time in 16 games in Toronto.
Mike Trout had two RBI and Yunel Escobar had two doubles and an RBI for the Angels.
Cron connected off Chris Smith in the ninth, his fifth.
Toronto's Justin Smoak hit a solo homer off Cam Bedrosian in the ninth, his 29th. The Blue Jays came in after sweeping a four-game series against Oakland, but couldn't maintain their hot streak.
Bridwell (5-1) allowed one run and three hits. He retired the first 11 batters in order before Josh Donaldson's two-out walk in the fourth. Smoak followed with a single, putting runners at the corners, but Kendrys Morales flied out.
Darwin Barney hit a leadoff double in the eighth and Bridwell left after getting Kevin Pillar to pop out. David Hernandez came on and retired Ryan Goins before Jose Bautista hit an RBI single.
Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki sprained his right ankle trying to beat out an infield grounder in the third. Tulowitzki stepped on Cron's foot as he hit the bag, sending the Blue Jays infielder stumbling in pain. Tulowitzki was visibly wincing as he hobbled off the field supported two team trainers.
"We'll have a better idea tomorrow," manager John Gibbons said.
Left-hander J.A. Happ (3-8) allowed three runs in six innings and is 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA over his past four starts.
For the second straight game, the Blue Jays had a verbal exchange with the home plate umpire. Happ stepped off the mound yelling into his glove after issuing a bases-loaded walk to Trout in the second, causing umpire Angel Hernandez to take off his mask and step out from behind the plate, gesturing at Happ to return to the mound. Manager John Gibbons came out to speak with Hernandez.
Happ paused to speak with Hernandez near home plate after striking out Albert Pujols to end the inning.
"I thought there was a little difference between the first and second inning with the strike zone," Happ said. "I was trying to get a grasp on that from him."
On Thursday, pitcher Marcus Stroman, catcher Russell Martin and Gibbons were ejected for arguing with umpire Will Little. Stroman had to be restrained after charging at Little following the ejection.
ATTENDANCE MILESTONE
With a crowd of 38, 828, Toronto surpassed the 2 million mark in season attendance. The Blue Jays are the first AL team to reach the plateau.
ROAD WARRIOR
Bridwell is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four road starts.
GOING DARK
The Blue Jays are 27-38 in night games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Troy Scribner joined the team in Toronto on Friday and is expected to be added to the roster Saturday. Scribner was 10-3 with a 4.16 ERA at Triple-A Salt Lake City.
Blue Jays: Triple-A INF Rob Refsnyder was replaced in the seventh inning of Friday's game against Louisville. Refsnyder could join the Blue Jays if Tulowitzki lands on the DL.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Yusmeiro Petit (2-0, 2.70 ERA) will come out of the bullpen to make his first start of the season. Petit's previous win as a starter came with San Francisco against Arizona on Sept. 9, 2014.
Blue Jays: LHP Francisco Liriano (6-5, 5.99 ERA) allowed two runs in five innings to beat Oakland on Monday and has won two of his past four.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
The results sure back him up.
Bridwell pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings to win his third straight decision, C.J. Cron hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 on Friday night.
"I'm just having a good time," Bridwell said after allowing two runs or fewer for the sixth time in eight career outings. "Every start, my objective is just to keep the team in the game. Once you do that, you have a better chance of winning."
Angels manager Mike Scioscia praised Bridwell for sticking with his strengths.
"Pretty much every time out he's pitching his game and letting other hitters try to adjust to him," Scioscia said. "He's using all of his stuff and keeping them off balance. He did a good job tonight, obviously."
Kaleb Cowart, who had three hits, said he's happy to see his former minor league teammate Bridwell, find success.
"I played behind him a few times in Triple-A," Cowart said. "He's got electric stuff and works quick. He's the kind of guy you want on the mound."
After being swept in a three-game series at Cleveland and falling a season-worst five games below .500, the Angels snapped their slump by winning for the 12th time in 16 games in Toronto.
Mike Trout had two RBI and Yunel Escobar had two doubles and an RBI for the Angels.
Cron connected off Chris Smith in the ninth, his fifth.
Toronto's Justin Smoak hit a solo homer off Cam Bedrosian in the ninth, his 29th. The Blue Jays came in after sweeping a four-game series against Oakland, but couldn't maintain their hot streak.
Bridwell (5-1) allowed one run and three hits. He retired the first 11 batters in order before Josh Donaldson's two-out walk in the fourth. Smoak followed with a single, putting runners at the corners, but Kendrys Morales flied out.
Darwin Barney hit a leadoff double in the eighth and Bridwell left after getting Kevin Pillar to pop out. David Hernandez came on and retired Ryan Goins before Jose Bautista hit an RBI single.
Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki sprained his right ankle trying to beat out an infield grounder in the third. Tulowitzki stepped on Cron's foot as he hit the bag, sending the Blue Jays infielder stumbling in pain. Tulowitzki was visibly wincing as he hobbled off the field supported two team trainers.
"We'll have a better idea tomorrow," manager John Gibbons said.
Left-hander J.A. Happ (3-8) allowed three runs in six innings and is 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA over his past four starts.
For the second straight game, the Blue Jays had a verbal exchange with the home plate umpire. Happ stepped off the mound yelling into his glove after issuing a bases-loaded walk to Trout in the second, causing umpire Angel Hernandez to take off his mask and step out from behind the plate, gesturing at Happ to return to the mound. Manager John Gibbons came out to speak with Hernandez.
Happ paused to speak with Hernandez near home plate after striking out Albert Pujols to end the inning.
"I thought there was a little difference between the first and second inning with the strike zone," Happ said. "I was trying to get a grasp on that from him."
On Thursday, pitcher Marcus Stroman, catcher Russell Martin and Gibbons were ejected for arguing with umpire Will Little. Stroman had to be restrained after charging at Little following the ejection.
ATTENDANCE MILESTONE
With a crowd of 38, 828, Toronto surpassed the 2 million mark in season attendance. The Blue Jays are the first AL team to reach the plateau.
ROAD WARRIOR
Bridwell is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four road starts.
GOING DARK
The Blue Jays are 27-38 in night games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Troy Scribner joined the team in Toronto on Friday and is expected to be added to the roster Saturday. Scribner was 10-3 with a 4.16 ERA at Triple-A Salt Lake City.
Blue Jays: Triple-A INF Rob Refsnyder was replaced in the seventh inning of Friday's game against Louisville. Refsnyder could join the Blue Jays if Tulowitzki lands on the DL.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Yusmeiro Petit (2-0, 2.70 ERA) will come out of the bullpen to make his first start of the season. Petit's previous win as a starter came with San Francisco against Arizona on Sept. 9, 2014.
Blue Jays: LHP Francisco Liriano (6-5, 5.99 ERA) allowed two runs in five innings to beat Oakland on Monday and has won two of his past four.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| J.A. Happ pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Escobar hit a ground rule double to deep right. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Bautista struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Martin grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Donaldson fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| J.A. Happ pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Simmons flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Maldonado singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Robinson walked, Maldonado to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Cowart singled to left, Maldonado scored, Robinson to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Escobar walked, Robinson to third, Cowart to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Trout walked, Robinson scored, Cowart to third, Escobar to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Pujols struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Smoak grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Morales flied out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Pearce fouled out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| J.A. Happ pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Cron flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Simmons grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Tulowitzki grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Pillar flied out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Goins grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| J.A. Happ pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Barney at second base. | 2 | 0 |
| Goins at shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| Maldonado walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Robinson struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| Cowart reached on infield single to shortstop, Maldonado to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Escobar flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Trout singled to left, Maldonado scored, Cowart to second, Cowart to third advancing on throw. | 3 | 0 |
| Pujols lined out to center. | 3 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Bautista struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Martin grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Donaldson walked. | 3 | 0 |
| Smoak singled to deep right, Donaldson to third. | 3 | 0 |
| Morales flied out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| J.A. Happ pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Cron lined out to center. | 3 | 0 |
| Simmons flied out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Pearce fouled out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Barney lined out to center. | 3 | 0 |
| Pillar flied out to center. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| J.A. Happ pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Maldonado flied out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Robinson grounded out to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Cowart grounded out to pitcher. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Goins flied out to center. | 3 | 0 |
| Bautista grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Martin singled to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Donaldson struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Dominic Leone pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Leone relieved Happ. | 3 | 0 |
| Escobar grounded out to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Trout grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Pujols popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Smoak lined out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Morales struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Pearce lined out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Dominic Leone pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Simmons doubled to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Dermody relieved Leone. | 3 | 0 |
| Simmons stole third. | 3 | 0 |
| Calhoun singled to center, Simmons scored. | 4 | 0 |
| C. Smith relieved Dermody. | 4 | 0 |
| Maldonado grounded out to pitcher, Calhoun to second. | 4 | 0 |
| Robinson grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Parker Bridwell pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Barney doubled to left. | 4 | 0 |
| Pillar popped out to shortstop. | 4 | 0 |
| Hernandez relieved Bridwell. | 4 | 0 |
| Goins grounded out to first, Barney to third. | 4 | 0 |
| Bautista hit a ground rule double to left, Barney scored. | 4 | 1 |
| Martin singled to right, Bautista to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Donaldson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Martin out at second. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Chris Smith pitching for Toronto | LAA | TOR |
| Cowart doubled to deep right. | 4 | 1 |
| Escobar doubled to left, Cowart scored. | 5 | 1 |
| Trout flied out to center, Escobar to third. | 5 | 1 |
| Pujols grounded into fielder's choice to third, Escobar out at home. | 5 | 1 |
| Cron homered to left center (413 feet), Pujols scored. | 7 | 1 |
| Simmons tripled to deep right. | 7 | 1 |
| Calhoun flied out to left. | 7 | 1 |
| 3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Cam Bedrosian pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | TOR |
| Bedrosian relieved Hernandez. | 7 | 1 |
| Smoak homered to right (360 feet). | 7 | 2 |
| Morales grounded out to second. | 7 | 2 |
| Pearce flied out to right. | 7 | 2 |
| Barney grounded out to third. | 7 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles Angels | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Escobar 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | .273 | .331 | .393 |
| Trout CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | .325 | .446 | .689 |
| Pujols DH | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .230 | .276 | .369 |
| Cron 1B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .233 | .285 | .370 |
| Simmons SS | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | .301 | .352 | .461 |
| Calhoun RF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | .232 | .312 | .369 |
| Maldonado C | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | .244 | .308 | .409 |
| Robinson LF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | .105 | .190 | .105 |
| Cowart 2B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .471 | .526 | .647 |
| Totals | 38 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 149 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Escobar 2 (19, Happ, C. Smith); Simmons (24, Leone); Cowart (3, C. Smith) 3B: Simmons (2, C. Smith) HR: Cron (5, 9th inning off C. Smith 1 on, 2 Out) RBI: Cowart (3), Trout 2 (44), Calhoun (45), Escobar (28), Cron 2 (21) 2-out RBI: Cowart, Trout 2, Cron 2 Angels RISP: 4-14 (Robinson 0-1, Cron 0-1, Cowart 1-1, Calhoun 1-2, Escobar 1-2, Pujols 0-4, Trout 1-3) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Simmons (14, 3rd base off Dermody/Martin) | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| SS TULOWITZKI (SPRAINED RIGHT ANKLE) LEFT GAME BOT 3RD |
Game Information
| Stadium | Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON |
| Attendance | 39,828 (80.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:47 |
| Weather | 71 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 6 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Angel Hernandez, First Base - John Tumpane, Second Base - Sean Barber, Third Base - Ted Barrett |
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