Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded into a rally-killing double play as the Blue Jays fell 2-0.

Toronto's players and coaches made the slow walk across the field at Sutter Health Park afterward, heads down, equipment in hand.

"It was a frustrating way to end the otherwise pretty good road trip," manager John Schneider said.

The loss closed out a nine-game, three-city trip through Cleveland, Kansas City, and Sacramento at 5-4.

Taking two of three from the Guardians secured a tiebreaker. But dropping two of three to a team with the second-worst record in the American League felt like a missed chance.

Toronto now sits 1.5 games behind Cleveland in the wild-card race, a gap that could stretch to two depending on the Guardians' result against Baltimore.

Braydon Fisher opened the bullpen game, and relievers largely held up, aside from Michael Lorenzen allowing a solo homer to Henry Bolte and another run on a wild pitch.

Why the offense couldn't cash in when it mattered

The bigger issue was an offense that managed just six hits against what was essentially a bullpen day for Oakland.

Alejandro Kirk didn't score from second on Ernie Clement's soft single in the fourth. In the fifth, runners on first and third with one out ended with Guerrero grounding into a double play against Scott Blewett.

He swung at the first pitch, an outside cutter, weakly back to the mound.

"In every situation, not just him, everyone, when you have some traffic out there, it's just getting a good pitch to hit," Schneider said. "I think no one wants to do that more than Vlad."

Asked about the team's energy, Schneider defended the effort. "I thought it was fine. This is a tough place to play. Nine games out of nine days, too. Wish you played a little bit better, but you gotta regroup tomorrow."

George Springer sat out, "just a little banged up" with shoulder and leg issues, though he pinch-hit in the eighth, sending a deep drive that Denzel Clarke ran down in center.

"I'm just doing everything I can to be available," Springer said. "It's September. It's been a long year for everybody."

Toronto flies home for an off day before hosting Baltimore Friday, with Schneider hoping the break offers a physical and mental reset.

"Mentally, taking a deep breath and understanding that we still have a lot of meaningful games left to play," Schneider said.

With just 15 games left, the margin for slow starts is gone. "Just go out and play and win," Springer said. "Everybody knows what's at stake."