Blue Jays fall to Athletics 4-3 on July 13, 2025, despite Leo Jiménez's first MLB homer. See how Kevin Gausman fared and why the late rally fell short.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of conflicting emotions in West Sacramento. On one hand, you had the pure joy of rookie Leo Jiménez launching his first-ever big-league home run. On the other, the all-too-familiar sting of a comeback that ran out of gas. The Blue Jays fought back late but ultimately fell 4-3 to the Oakland Athletics, leaving fans to ponder what could have been.
In the ninth, Mason Miller struck out Ernie Clement and George Springer with the tying run on second to seal the win for Oakland.
The night started with a jolt of excitement. In the second inning, rookie infielder Leo Jiménez connected for his first career MLB homer, a 402-foot solo shot that gave Toronto an early lead. Bo Bichette followed up with an RBI double in the third, and it felt like the Jays were in control. But the tide turned in the fifth when A's slugger Brent Rooker tagged Kevin Gausman for a go-ahead two-run homer. Gausman battled through six innings but was ultimately tagged with the loss, allowing four earned runs in an outing that was solid until that one fateful inning.
Despite the deficit, the Blue Jays refused to go quietly. Alejandro Kirk brought the team within one by driving in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a sacrifice fly in the eighth, setting the stage for a dramatic ninth. With the tying run on second base, the Jays had a chance to complete the comeback. However, A's closer Mason Miller was simply overpowering, striking out Ernie Clement and George Springer to slam the door and extinguish Toronto's hopes.
The on-field challenges were mirrored by troubling news off the field. The team announced that right-handed reliever Ryan Burr has been placed on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder rotator cuff strain, a significant blow to a bullpen searching for stability. In his place, the Jays have selected RHP Tommy Nance from Triple-A Buffalo. The constant shuffling continues to be a major storyline for a relief corps that can't seem to catch a break.
It's not all bad news on the injury front. RHP Paxton Schultz, out since late June with finger inflammation, has thrown his first bullpen session and could be back by mid-to-late July, providing some much-needed reinforcement. The outlook is less clear for outfielder Anthony Santander, who remains on the 60-day IL and is still not swinging a bat. Manager John Schneider expressed hope that he would resume baseball activities 'soon,' targeting a potential return in early August.
While the loss stings, especially with the rally falling just short, the flashes of potential from rookies like Jiménez offer a silver lining. However, the recurring theme of bullpen instability, now compounded by Burr's serious injury, remains the team's biggest hurdle. The Jays will need to quickly flush this one and find a way to string together some wins, because the schedule isn't getting any easier. All eyes are on how they respond tomorrow to try and salvage a series win.
