The Associated Press
Ian Harrison
TORONTO–Chase Anderson and two relievers combined on a four-hitter, Jonathan Villar homered and the Milwaukee Brewers beat Toronto 2-0 last night to hand the struggling Blue Jays their fifth straight loss.
Last-place Toronto is off to the worst start in team history at 1-7.
Anderson (1-0) allowed three hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out seven.
Corey Knebel pitched the eighth and Neftali Feliz finished for his third save.
Domingo Santana doubled in the second and scored on a two-out double by Keon Broxton. Villar hit a leadoff drive in the sixth, his third home run this season.
Marcus Stroman (1-1) pitched a complete game for the Blue Jays, allowing seven hits.
Josh Donaldson returned to Toronto’s lineup as the designated hitter but it did little to spark an offence that has scored just 23 runs.
Donaldson did not start Tuesday’s home opener because of a sore right calf.
Anderson retired his first 10 batters before Jose Bautista lined a single to left field.
Donaldson walked and both runners advanced on a grounder by Kendrys Morales.
Troy Tulowitzki was intentionally walked to load the bases but Russell Martin struck out swinging, extending his season-opening slump to 0 for 20.
Martin doubled in his next at-bat, avoiding matching Pat Borders’ 1991 club mark of 21 hitless at-bats to start a season.
Martin was left stranded when Steve Pearce flied out to end the inning.
In American League action yesterday, the Yankees beat the Rays 8-4; the White Sox edged the Indians 2-1; the Athletics downed the Royals 8-3; the Astros beat the Mariners 10-5; the Tigers mauled the Twins 5-3; the Orioles shellacked the Red Sox 12-5; and Rangers defeated the Angels 8-3.
Over in the National League, the Padres beat the Rockies 6-0; the Reds sunk the Pirates 9-2; the Braves reeled in the Marlins 5-4; the Giants squashed the Diamondbacks 6-2; the Cardinals deleted the National 6-2; the Mets edged the Phillies 5-4; and the Dodgers beat the Cubs 2-0.
