Game #117 Toronto Blue Jays (47-70) @ Tampa Bay Rays (66-50) - game recap

Derek Fisher hit a 2-run HR that stood up as the game winner in a 4-3 victory over the Rays

After blowing a six run lead and losing on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th, the Blue Jays were looking to escape Tampa Bay with a series win. The last time the Blue Jays won a series in Tampa Bay was May 5-7, 2017. Today, the Blue Jays tried for the series win with a plethora of bullpen arms. Wilmer Font got the "start". He went two innings last time he was used as an opener. Both Cavan Biggio and Vlad got complete days off. It's not that surprising that Vlad was not in the lineup. He had a massive throwing error and was 0-fer at the plate. He looked like he needed a day off. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got a half day off, serving as the DH today. Freddy Galvis took Biggio's spot at second base and Brandon Drury was at the hot corner. Reese McGuire got the start behind the plate with the short turnaround between games. Could the Blue Jays escape TB with a series win? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Wilmer Font pitching line: 2.1IP 1H 0R 0BB 5K 41 pitches (28 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. slammed a solo bomb over the wall in dead center
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Randal Grichuk whacked a solo blast to left-center
• Two batters later, Derek Fisher smacked a 2-run shot to left-center also scoring Justin Smoak
• Brendan McKay pitching line: 5IP 6H 3R (all earned) 2BB 8K 93 pitches (69 for strikes)
• The Rays got one back in the bottom of the 8th as Avisail Garcia singled home Austin Meadows
• The Rays got a pair back in the bottom of the 9th as Mike Zunino smashed a 2-run blast to straightaway center also scoring Kevin Kiermaier 
• Ken Giles pitched the 9th for his 15th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Rays 3

My Take:

• Wilmer Font did an excellent job in his 2.1 innings of work. He allowed just the one hit (a one out double to Eric Sogard) and he struck out five batters. So far, he's been a solid edition to the bullpen
• It will be interesting to see how Ken Giles' elbow responds after warming up to come into the game several times yesterday as the game was tied in the 9th and 10th last night and he needed to be ready to pitch in the event the Blue Jays took the lead in the top half of the inning. The rest of the season should be a balancing act of getting him work and maintaining his health because at this point you want Giles to be healthy heading into the off-season for a full off-season training program to prep for regular use in 2020 to be traded at the end of July.
• Every Blue Jay in the lineup had one hit except Teoscar Hernandez and Reese McGuire
• Bo Bichette extended his hitting streak with a double in the 3rd inning. The Blue Jays should keep him in the lineup as long as this hitting streak continues
• Up next, the Blue Jays head home after a successful 7-3 road trip to open a four-game set against the 1st place Yankees. It's well-documented that the Yankees have been getting the most out of a largely AAA-caliber lineup due to injuries. It's a credit to their development system.. Check out their latest injury list. On Thursday, the Yankees will start righty Domingo German and the Blue Jays will counter with lefty Thomas Pannone