Game #162 Toronto Blue Jays (73-89) @ Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) - game recap

Jake Bauers was 3-3 with 2RBI and 2 runs scored as the Rays beat the Blue Jays 9-4

Here we are, the final game of the 2018 MLB season. Russell Martin was the unofficial manager, filling out the lineup cards and handling the duties that John Gibbons would normally do. The Blue Jays were looking to give Gibbons a final series win before he rides off into the sunset.. The soon-to-be-ex-Blue Jays manager will almost certainly find employment elsewhere, hopefully in a better situation. Here is a today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• Ryne Stanek pitching line: 2IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K 27 pitches (18 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Randal Grichuk doubled home Kevin Pillar
• The Rays tied it in the bottom of the 3rd on a bad throwing error by Reese McGuire that scored Jake Bauers
• A pitch later, Joey Wendle singled scoring Tommy Pham
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 5th as Pillar got his 40th double, scoring Richard Urena
• The Rays retook the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Mallex Smith singled home Bauers
• A batter later, Pham tripled scoring Smith
• A batter later, Pham scored on a sac fly by Joey Wendle
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Teoscar Hernandez scored on a fielder's choice hit by Aledmys Diaz
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 5.2IP 6H 5R (all earned) 3BB 3K 90 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Wendle scored on a sac fly hit by Brandon Lowe
• Three batters later, Bauers hit a ground-rule double scoring CJ Cron and Austin Meadows
• The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Smith scored on a double play ball hit by Cron
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 9th as Jon Berti scored on a double play ball hit by Jonathan Davis
• Final score: Rays 9 Blue Jays 4

My Take

• Sam Gaviglio had an ok start in his final outing of the 2018 season. He gave up 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 3. His catcher and defense certainly didn't help him out. Reese McGuire had a very rough 3rd inning, allowing 2 stolen bases and a wild pitch. A run scored on one of the stolen bases thanks to a horrible throw that sailed into center field. Gaviglio will likely be used out of the bullpen next season and be available for sp-ot starts in the event of injuries
• It's too bad the Blue Jays were unable to get their departing manager John Gibbons one last victory
• Jonathan Davis took over in center field in the bottom of the 5th. He was 1-2 at the plate and involved in 5 plays defensively. 
• Dwight Smith Jr. took over defensively in the bottom of the 7th. He was involved in 3 plays defensively and grounded out to end the season for the Blue Jays
• Rowdy Tellez start at 1st base and batted 5th. Tellez was 2-4 at the plate and involved in 11 plays defensively
• Reese McGuire got the start at catcher today and was batting 7th. He was 0-2 at the plate with 2 strikeouts. Defensively, he had a day to forget. Four Rays baserunners stole bases off him (he threw the ball into center field on one of the steals, cashing in the Rays first run.) McGuire also gave up a wild pitch. He is almost certainly going to start next year in the minors.
• Jon Berti started at 2nd base and was batting 8th. Berti was 1-4 at the plate and scored the Blue Jays final run of the 2018 season. Berti was involved in 3 plays defensively
• Richard Urena started at SS and batted 9. He was 1-3 at the plate and scored the Blue Jays second run of the game. Defensively, he was involved in 5 plays defensively
• Jose Fernandez pitched a third of an inning, walking a batter and striking out 1
• Taylor Guerrreri threw the final inning and a third of the season. He gave up one run on one hit and he hit a pair of Rays batters
• Thank you all for reading all my recaps next season and maybe next year, pending my job status I'll do some more. My weekly random thoughts will continue to be released every Monday during the off-season.
• Up next, the MLB playoffs! Oh, and the next Blue Jays game is in just under six months at home against Detroit. If things stay the way they are with respect to the pitching staff, minus maybe Marco Estrada, I expect either Ryan Borucki or Aaron Sanchez to get the opening day start.