Game #137 Tampa Bay Rays (74-63) @ Toronto Blue Jays (62-75) - game recap

Matt Duffy was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored as the Rays beat the Blue Jays 7-1

After a difficult road trip that saw the Blue Jays get swept by the worst team in the league and nearly lose the series against the basement dwellers of the NL East, the Blue Jays returned home to begin a difficult home-stand facing a Tampa Bay Rays team that has been kryptonite to Toronto all year, followed by a three-game set against the best team in the league.Marcus Stroman made his return to the mound after missing a couple of turns due to a blister on his pitching finger. Blue Jays management must have been holding their collective breaths watching this one, given what Aaron Sanchez went through with his blister problems. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Rays took the lead in the top of the 1st as Tommy Pham singled home Matt Duffy
• The Rays doubled the lead in the top of the 2nd as Mallex Smith singled home Kevin Kiermaier
• A batter later, Matt Duffy doubled, scoring Smith and Nick Ciuffo
• Marcus Stroman pitching line: 1.2IP 6H 4R (all earned) 0BB 1K 49 pitches (31 for strikes)
• Ryne Stanek pitching line: 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K 16 pitches (11 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 2nd as Teoscar Hernandez singled scoring Aledmys Diaz
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Kiermaier singled home Joey Wendle
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 5th as Pham scored on a wild pitch by Tim Mayza
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 7th as Ji-Man Choi hit a solo HR to right-center
• Final score: Rays 7 Blue Jays 1

My Take

• Only one pitcher was expected to throw just a couple of innings and it was not Marcus Stroman. Coming off a blister to one of the fingers on his pitching hand, Stroman was roughed up and did not make it out of the 2nd inning. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and a hit batter in 1.2 innings today. You have to wonder if the blister was affecting Stroman. He threw only five cutters and one change-up in the 49 pitches he threw. If Stroman can't utilize all his pitches, he shouldn't be out there.
• pretty poor showing by the offense tonight. One run, 4 hits and 4 walks. Teoscar Hernandez, Kevin Pillar, Aledmys Diaz and Billy McKinney each had a hit tonight
• Mark Leiter Jr., son of ex-Expos pitcher Mark Leiter and nephew of ex-Blue Jays pitcher Al Leiter made his debut for the Blue Jays, pitching a scoreless 9th. Leiter Jr. was claimed off waivers from Philadelphia September 1.
• It will be interesting to see how many wins the Blue Jays get this month. Gibbons commented today that he feels he has a professional group of players who will play hard. However, let's face it, the team has nothing to play for but pride and jobs next year.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series as a pair of unknown pitchers take the mound. It might be a bullpen day for both teams.