Blue Jays Historically Dry at Dish with Runners in Scoring Position

The Toronto Blue Jays have not recorded a hit in any of the last five games with a runner in scoring position.

That extended dry spell marks the longest hitless streak with runners in scoring position in franchise history, per Sportsnet Stats. An unsavory record, the previous benchmark for the Blue Jays was an 0-for-30 stretch in 1990. 

Despite the lack of production with runners on either second or third base, Toronto has emerged victorious in two of the five contests over that span. The club even racked up seven runs in a win over the New York Yankees. Four of the runs came on home runs, one on a wild pitch and two on sacrifice flies.

The Blue Jays started the season off slowly, going 8-17 during April. After the disastrous start, the club righted the ship in May, closing out the month with an 18-10 record to near the .500 mark. They sit just 2-3 over the first five games in June, but the return of star third baseman Josh Donaldson from a calf injury and pitcher Aaron Sanchez's improvement on the rehab front from a lingering blister issue brightens the future of the season.

Toronto opened up a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics on Monday with a 5-3 loss but will look to get back on track and end its struggles with runners in scoring position in the second game of the series Tuesday. The Blue Jays trot Marco Estrada to the mound for the tilt, while Jesse Hahn will toe the rubber for the A's.