Jays get what they need from starter Ross Stripling and beat A’s

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This article was published 15/04/2022 (1585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three things you need to know about the Blue Jays’ 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night at the Rogers Centre:

Sixth man

Jays manager Charlie Montoyo turned to right-hander Ross Stripling for the start in the opener of a three-game series. Stripling gave them exactly what they needed with four shutout innings of two-hit ball on 62 pitches. Montoyo knew he wouldn’t get many more than that out of Stripling, who isn’t fully stretched out after a shortened spring training, but he took the Jays far enough to put the bullpen in good position to finish, and give the rest of the rotation an extra day. That could be particularly important to Hyun-Jin Ryu, who starts Saturday and has historically worked better with more time off. With regular catcher Danny Jansen on the injured list, Ryu will have Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.

Bench press

The Jays got production from a couple of bats off the bench, with right-fielder Raimel Tapia and catcher Zack Collins each producing two of their 11 hits. Tapia flashed his athleticism in the second inning, scoring from first base on a single by Santiago Espinal. And when Espinal was intentionally walked to put runners on the corners with two out in the sixth, Collins followed with an RBI single to right for an insurance run. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s homer in the first inning, his fifth in eight games, Tapia and Collins played key roles in the victory.

Hit and miss

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A’s third baseman Kevin Smith, one of four players acquired from the Jays in the Matt Chapman trade, had two of Oakland’s six hits against his old club. The 25-year-old Smith had just three hits in 32 at-bats with the Jays last year, and one hit in 19 at-bats this season heading into Friday. Another arrival in the Chapman trade, lefty Kirby Snead, was placed on the restricted list ahead of the series. No details were provided, but unvaccinated players can’t play in Canada and are placed on the COVID-19 restricted list in that situation.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy