Game #66 Toronto Blue Jays (30-36) @ Tampa Bay Rays (30-35) - game recap

Tampa Bay Rays 1b was 2-3 at the plate, including hitting his first career HR as the Rays doubled up on the Blue Jays 8-4

After a terrific weekend where the Toronto Blue Jays dominated the Baltimore Orioles  for 4 games, the Blue Jays were looking to extend their winning streak to a season-high 5 games. Devon Travis made his return to the lineup after missing a pair of games with knee soreness. Here is today's game recap.

Game highlights

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Kendrys Morales singled home Yangervis Solarte 
• The Rays tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Matt Duffy scored on a sac fly by Joey Wendle
• The Blue Jays took their second lead of the game on a Teoscar Hernandez 2 run HR that also scored Devon Travis
• The Rays got one back in the bottom of the 3rd as Willy Adames singled to score Jake Bauers
• The Rays tied  the game as the next batter, Mallex Smith singled scoring Wendle
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 4th as Randal Grichuk singled home Morales
• The Rays took the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Bauers homered also scoring Duffy
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 3.1IP 7H 5R (all earned) 2BB 3K 70 pitches (43 for strikes)
• Ryan Yarbrough pitching line: 6IP 7H 4R 1BB 4K 88 pitches (59 for strikes)
• The Rays added 2 more in the bottom of the 7th on a fielder's choice and throwing error by John Axford that scored Bauers and Wilson Ramos
• The next batter Adames hit a sac fly that scored CJ Crom
• Final score: Rays 8 Blue Jays 4

My take

• And so ends the run of quality starts by a starting pitcher. Sam Gaviglio was roughed up to the tune of 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks in 3.1 innings. He had been pitching well his previous four starts. Since joining the rotation May 19, Gaviglio had pitched into the 6th inning every time. With the bullpen relatively rested, as Blue Jays starters had been pitching into the 6th inning the past week and a half, the Blue Jays could afford a shorter start today. I still like Gaviglio as a spot starter more than Joe Biagini.
• John Axford was roughed up in the 7th, giving up 3 runs, 2 on a throwing error to Russell Martin. This pretty much put the game out of reach for the Blue Jays tonight.
• Kendrys Morales continues to swing a hot bat. He got 2 more hits today and drove in the first run of the game for Toronto
• Devon Travis is now above the Mendoza line. He was 1-3 today and scored the first run of the ball game
• The Blue Jays have a new leader in terms of batting average. Teoscar Hernandez surpassed Kevin Pillar for the team lead with a single and home run. He is now batting .265. Pillar went 0-4 today and his average is .262.
• The Blue Jays and Rays are virtually tied in the standings but Tampa Bay took over 3rd place in the AL East tonight by virtue of a higher win%.
• Up next, the Blue Jays will look to even up the 3 game series as Jaime Garcia takes the ball against a Rays reliever. Tampa Bay has yet to announce the starter for tomorrow's game.