Game #54 Toronto Blue Jays (21-33) @ Tampa Bay Rays (32-19) - game recap

Austin Meadows was 3-5 with a run scored and 3 RBI as the Rays knocked off the Blue Jays 8-3

After a rough homestand, where the Blue Jays lost 5 of 7, the team headed to their road house of horrors in Tropicana Field. The Blue Jays won just twice in nine tries at the Trop in 2018. The stadium is notorious for quirky outs and knocking down home run balls. Aaron Sanchez got the start. Jusrin Smoak got the complete day iff with Rowdy Tellez at first base and Cavan Biggio at DH. Could the Blue Jays tame the Trop? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Austin Meadows singled home Travis d'Arnaud
• Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 3IP 6H 1R (earned) 2BB 1K 64 pitches (35 for strikes)
• The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Tommy Phan doubled home d'Arnaud
• A batter later, Ji-Man Choi singled scoring Phan then scored himself when Luke Maile threw the ball into center field.
• Yonny Chirinos pitching line: 5IP 0H 0R 2BB 7K 69 pitches (45 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 7th as Jonathan Davis bashed his first career HR to left also scoring Freddy Galvis
• The Rays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Daniel Robertson doubled scoring d'Arnaud and Kevin Kiermaier
• A batter later, Meadows slammed one to right also scoring Robertson
• The Blue jays got one back in the top of the 9th as Galvis smacked a solo shot to left
• Final score: Rays 8 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• This is getting comical. For the second time in three starts, Aaron Sanchez had to leave his start early with finger issues, this time an avulsion of his nail (I'll spare you guys the gross factor and won't post a pic.) Sanchez needs to go on the IL and get this taken care of properly. He's hurting himself and the team by continuing to go out there and try to pitch through the blisters. Apparently this time, he was injured tossing a fastball in the 1st inning. Why was he allowed to pitch two more innings? Was trainer Nikki Huffman not made aware of the issue?
• To make matters worse, Sanchez's replacement Jacob Waguespack, who struck out seven in his MLB debut, a franchise record for a Blue Jays reliever making their MLB debut, left after tossing 4 innings with tightness in his shoulder. Look for one or both of Sanchez and Waguespack to wind on the IL
• A bright spot in the game was Jonathan Davis hit his first career HR.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series as Clayton Richard gets his second start in a Blue Jays uniform against another Rays opener (likely Ryne Stanek)