Thursday, September 20, 2018

Game #153 Tampa Bay Rays (85-67) @ Toronto Blue Jays (70-83) - game recap

Justin Smoak hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th to cap off an epic 7 run inning for a come from behind 9-8 victory over the Rays

The Blue Jays began their final homestand of the season tonight. Going into the game, the Blue Jays were .500 at home with a record of 37-37. Sam Gaviglio was on the mound tonight and he pitches much better at home. The Rays were having their usual bullpen game, which has been highly effective as the Rays could get 90 wins this season and they have an outside chance of making the playoffs. Here's hoping the Blue Jays play spoiler once again. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd as Rowdy Tellez hit a 2 run HR to right-center also scoring Randal Grichuk
  • Ryne Stanek pitching line: 1IP 3H 2R (both earned) 0BB 1K 17 pitches (13 for strikes)
  • The Rays got one back in the top of the 4th as Tommy Phan tripled, scoring Matt Duffy
  • A batter later, Joey Wendle doubled home Pham, tying the game at 2
  • Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 5IP 4H 2R (both earned) 1BB 2K 67 pitches (42 for strikes)
  • The Rays took the lead in the top of the 6th as Willy Adames singled, scoring Ji-Man Choi
  • The Rays added a run in the top of the 7th as Pham singled home Mallex Smith
  • A batter later, Wendle singled scoring Duffy
  • Three batters later, CJ Cron singled home Pham, Wendle and Kevin Kiermaier
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 9th as as Tellez doubled home Dwight Smith Jr.
  • Three batters later, Danny Jansen crushed a three-run homer to left, also scoring Tellez and Jonathan Davis
  • Two batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tied it with a HR into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Teoscar Hernandez
  • A batter later, Justin Smoak hit a walk-off HR to right
  • Final score: Blue Jays 9 Rays 8
My Take

  • Sam Gavigio pitched a decent game, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings tonight. He had an excellent first 2 innings, retiring the first 6 batters on just 11 pitches. The 4th inning was a rough one for him and where the Rays got their runs. At this point, I would bring Gaviglio back, but only let him pitch at the Roger's Center. Or I would get MLB's permission to wear home uniforms on road games when it's his turn because Sammy G has been far better at home than on the road
  • The bullpen did not have a good game. Joe Biagini and Mark Leiter Jr. (who is not nearly as good as his father or uncle) combined to give up five runs on five hits and a pair of walks in the top of the 7th. Jose Fernandez also gave up a run in his third of an inning
  • Luckily the Blue Jays were in the mood for an epic comeback in the ninth, scoring 7 runs on 6 hits and a hit batter. This might have been the best game the Blue Jays played all year. The loss drove another nail into the Rays coffin. 
  • Anthony Alford pinch hit for Billy McKinney in the bottom of the 8th and struck out. He did not have a play the 9th
  • Dwight Smith Jr. came in as a defensive replacement in the 9th. He did not have a play defensively. He doubled and scored the Blue Jays 3rd run.
  • Rowdy Tellez had a huge day at the plate with a 2 for 4 effort, 3RBI and a pair of runs scored. Defensively, he was involved in 10 plays.
  • Danny Jansen had an up and down day today. Four base runners stole bases off him today and he gave up a key wild pitch in the Rays big 7th inning. However, he sort of made up for the defensive woes in the 9th when he crushed a three run HR to get the Blue Jays within 2
  • Reese McGuire struck out batting for Aledmys Diaz in the 9th.
  • Richard Urena played second base today and was 1-4 with a single in the 8th. He was involved in five plays defensively, four of them outs
  • Jonathan Davis took over defensively in CF in the top of the 8th.. He was involved in two outs defensively. He was hit by a pitch in his only at-bat and scored the Blue Jays 5th run of the game
  • Jose Fernandez pitch a third of a inning and allowed one run on one hit and walked a batter
  • David Paulino pitched a perfect 9th and struck out one batter
  • Mark Leiter Jr. was lit up for four runs on three hits and a walk in a third of an inning.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays go for their second straight win as Sean Reid-Foley gets his second to last start of the season facing a Rays opener (Stanek again?)