Friday, September 28, 2018

Game #160 Toronto Blue Jays (73-87) @ Tampa Bay Rays (88-72) - game recap

Randal Grichuk hit a go-ahead triple in the 7th as the Blue Jays edged the Rays 7-6

We have reached the final weekend of the 2018 season. It will be bittersweet in several ways. This series marks the final one with John Gibbons as manager. The Blue Jays traded away one of the last major pieces from that magical 2015 playoff run as Josh Donaldson became an Indian. JA Happ left July 31st for the Yankees. Likely the only remaining players from 2015 on the team next year will be Russell Martin, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman, Justin Smoak, Kevin Pillar, Devon Travis, Ryan Tepera and Troy Tulowitzki. Here's hoping for a three game sweep to send Gibby off on a positive. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Joey Wendle doubled home Mallex Smith
  • A batter later, Tommy Pham scored on a sac fly by CJ Cron
  • Two batters later, Willy Adames singled, scoring Wendle
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 2nd on a Teoscar Hernandez solo HR to right-center
  • The Rays added a run in the top of the 5th as Smith scored on a sac fly by Pham
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Rowdy Tellez led off with a solo HR to right
  • Five batters later, the Blue Jays tied the game on a double by Jon Berti that scored Dwight Smith Jr. and Richard Urena. It was Berti's first 2 career RBI
  • Tyler Glasnow pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 3R (all earned) 3BB 9K 95 pitches (60 for strikes)
  • The Rays took the lead in the bottom of the 6th on a perfectly executed bunt single by Adam Moore that scored Adames
  • Thomas Pannone pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 5R (all earned) 3BB 3K 94 pitches (59 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 7th as Randal Grichuk tripled scoring Kevin Pillar, Tellez and Hernandez
  • The Rays got one back in the bottom of the 8th as Moore led off with a HR to straightaway center
  • Ken Giles came in and pitched a scoreless 9th for his 26th save of the season, 14th as a Blue Jay
  • Final score: Blue Jays 7 Rays 6
My Take

  • Thomas Pannone battled his way through 5.1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 3. It was questionable whether he should have been allowed to start the 6th inning, given the Blue Jays had just tied the game. Pannone has earned himself a long look at spring training next year
  • The Blue Jays played this one like they wanted to win it for the Gibber
  • Rowdy Tellez started at 1B and was batting 4th. He was 1-5 with a RBI and a pair of runs scored. Tellez also reached on a fielding error in the 7th. Defensively, he was involved in 5 plays.
  • Reese McGuire started the game at catcher and was 1-3 at the plate with a single in the 6th. Defensively, Mallex Smith stole a base off him in the 5th
  • Danny Jansen pinch hit for Dwight Smith Jr. in the 7th and drew a walk. He also flew out to center in the 9th. Jansen was fine defensively today.
  • Dwight Smith Jr. started the game in LF and was batting 7th. Smith Jr. was 1-2 at the plate and was picked off 1st base. He was involved in 6 plays defensively
  • Jonathan Davis pinch ran for Randal Grichuk in the 7th and took over defensively in LF. Davis was 0-1 at the plate. He was involved in 2 plays defensively.
  • Richard Urena started at SS and was batting 8th. He was 3-4 at the plate and scored a run. Urena was involved in 4 plays defensivel
  • Jon Berti started at 2B and was batting 9th. Berti was 1-4 at the plate and picked up his first 2 career RBI on a double. In the field, he was involved in 2 plays.
  • Jose Fernandez pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up a run on 2 hits.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays try to end the season with a series win as Blue Jays rookie phenom Ryan Borucki takes on Cy Young favorite Blake Snell. Last Sunday, both starters pitched into the 7th inning.