Game #141 Toronto Blue Jays (55-86) @ Tampa Bay Rays (83-59) - game recap

Bo Bichette hit a pair of home runs and drove in 3 runs in a losing effort as the Rays knocked off the Blue Jays 6-4

After being swept by the Atlanta Braves to start this week long road trip, the Blue Jays were looking  to get back to winning in their own personal house of horrors that is Tropicana field. The Blue Jays should be thankful to be in a dome tonight, shielded from the wrath of hurricane Dorian that has pounded the Bahamas. Ex-Blue Jay Aaron Sanchez saw his subpar season come to an end due to right shoulder surgery. The injury means he will avoid a 20 loss season, but will also likely affect his off-season program given how close we are to the season ending. Justin Smoak (age 32), Randal Grichuk (age 28), Derek Fisher (age 26) and Teoscar Hernandez (age 26) were the oldest ones in today's lineup. Everyone else was 24 or younger. Oh, and Trent Thornton got the start, looking to have a strong final month of his rookie campaign. Could the Blue Jays pull off the miracle? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Bo Bichette led off the game with a solo shot to right-center after an impressive 13-pitch AB.
• The Rays tied it in the bottom of the 3rd as Austin Meadows scored after an error by Justin Smoak due to a bad throw by Bo Bichette
• Four batters later, Tommy Pham scored on a sac fly by Avisail Garcia
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 5th as Joey Wendle scored on a bases loaded walk by Travis d'Arnaud
• Trent Thornton pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 3R (1 earned) 3BB 4K 92 pitches, 53 for strikes)
• Austin Pruitt pitching line: 5IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 4K 81 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Cavan Biggio
• The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 6th on a botched routine fly ball catch by Derek Fisher that cashed in Garcia
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 7th as Bichette smacked a 2-run blast to left also scoring Reese McGuire
• The Rays retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Meadows smashed an opposite field shot to left-center
• The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Meadows lined a double down the line scoring Wendle
• Emilio Pagan pitched a scoreless 9th for his 18th save of the season
• Final score: Rays 6 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Once again walks and errors killed the Blue Jays. Fielding errors by Justin Smoak and Derek Fisher directly and indirectly led to 3 runs for the Rays. Trent Thornton walked three batters, including one with the bases loaded. Thornton wasn't great with his command, especially in the final 1.2 innings tonight
• Bo Bichette drove in three of the 4 Blue Jays runs and continues to be the most consistent Blue Jays batter.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2-3, walk, RBI) and Reese McGuire (3-4, run scored) also had good days at the plate.
• Travis d'Arnaud had to leave the game after taking 2 foul balls in a row, one in the testicles and the next pitch off his throwing shoulder. He finished the inning and was replaced to start the 9th. The Rays also lost Tommy Pham in the bottom of the 7th after he hurt his arm in a rundown between 3rd and home.
•  Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and get their 1st win in the month of September. It will be interesting to see who's healthy enough to play for the Rays tomorrow. Righty Clay Buchholz goes for the Blue Jays, while the Rays will have a bullpen day.