The post trade deadline Blue Jays have had moments, games when their pitching was elite, times even when the team’s hitting was remarkably good, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Heck, even the team’s depleted and talent-thin bullpen have stepped up to the metaphorical plate.
Junior Jays Sunday was not one of those moments.
One of the few moments the announced crowd of 38,797 showed any signs of life came in the top half of the sixth inning, when the home side recorded an out on a run down between third base and home plate.
And to think the Blue Jays began their six-game homestand by beating a quality Baltimore team two out of three games to earn the series win.
With Oakland in town to play its final series in Toronto before the team relocates to Sacramento next season, the Blue Jays were afforded an opportunity to keep the winning spirit alive.
Instead, it was completely washed away in a truly forgettable and regrettable first inning en route to an 8-4 loss that did not reflect the day’s gloom.
The first-inning carnage featured 11 batters coming up to the plate, two home runs surrendered, a hit batter, a mound visit and six runs scored.
If one were to grade Oakland’s performance, it would receive an A-plus. In contrast, the Blue Jays were deserving of an F.
Chris Bassitt would wear the goat horns following his second four-inning outing in his past three starts, but the entire team was woefully amiss inside the closed Rogers Centre.
Toronto went 3-3 on its homestand as a six-game road trip awaits beginning Monday in Anaheim with a date against the L.A. Angels.
The way the Blue Jays played and battled against the Orioles, so much was expected against the A’s and yet so little produced.
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Toronto needed two home runs in Friday’s series opener to toppled the A’s, 3-1.
Toronto was then shutout, 3-0, Saturday when only two hits were generated and no hit beyond the second inning.
When Daulton Varsho went yard in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game, when he recorded his 14th home run of the season, it was Toronto’s first hit of the afternoon.
Including the seven hitless innings from Friday, the Blue Jays went a combined 10 hitless innings against an Oakland staff that isn’t exactly Cy Young Award worthy.
Credit the A’s for coming into Toronto and stepping on the Jays’ throats, though.
The A’s ran at will in the series finale, even attempting to swipe a bag in a 6-0 game, which only speaks to Oakland’s aggressive approach.
The Jays played with this passivity and borderline cockiness, for some reason, which is quite strange and disconcerting because they haven’t done anything.
There was a bit of buzz each time Guerrero stepped up to the plate, but it didn’t have the same kind of raw emotion.
One of the weekend’s highlights was Guerrero ’s ninth-inning showdown with Oakland power pitcher Mason Miller, who struck him out on a 103 mph pitch.
No such moment of high drama was even remotely palpable Sunday.
Following a leadoff single by Varsho in the home half of the inning, Guerrero hit into a double play.
Guerrero entered the afternoon riding a 22-game hit streak, tying his career-high. This was not Guerrero’s day, but neither was it for the Blue Jays.
The team showed its hand at the trade deadline by keeping starting pitching with control, a list highlighted by Bassitt, Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios. Yariel Rodriguez, technically speaking, also falls into the group, but he’s only in his first year.
Y-Rod pitched well Saturday, but got absolutely no support.
Bassitt did not pitch well and allowed A’s leadoff hitter Lawrence Butler to record two hits in the first inning.
One might say the Butler did it because Oakland’s starting right fielder set the tone.
Following a fourth-inning single, Butler stole second base. His three hits matched the Jays’ entire team total through seven innings.
JJ Bleday and Zack Gelof took Bassitt deep in the fateful first.
Getawayday took on a new definition based on the Blue Jays’ poor play.
At least Luis De Los Santos recorded his first MLB hit when he beat out an infield grounder.
At least Varsho competed from first pitch, but then again Varsho embodies competitiveness and fearlessness.
A worrisome trend continues to involve Davis Schneider and his lack of hitting.
For reasons that defy credulity, the Jays have Schneider in the lineup. Sunday, he hit seventh in the order.
He hasn’t hit a hit home since June 22, a stretch that has seen Schneider record three extra-base hits. He has one RBI in his past 20 games.
In his final at-bat Sunday, Schneider drew a walk as the Blue Jays had runners at first and second after Spencer Horwitz drew a walk. One out later, De Los Santos stepped up the plate and stepped up his game by sending a sharply hit ball into the right-field corner to score two runs.
He came around to score when George Springer hit a single into left field.
When Varsho was hit by a pitch on Michel Otanez’s first pitch in the at-bat, amazingly the Jays had the tying run in the on-deck circle.
The air would be sucked out of the building when Guerrero hit into an inning-ending double play.
Oakland went with Miller to start the ninth inning. He retired the side in order.