Game #143 Toronto Blue Jays (55-88) @ Tampa Bay Rays (85-59) - game recap

Anthony Kay threw 5.2 strong innings in his big league debut in a  losing effort as the Rays came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 5-3

After dropping the first 2 games of this series, the Blue Jays look to get things back on track and get their first win in September. Anthony Kay got the start for the Blue Jays and became the latest to make his big league debut for the Blue Jays (TJ Zeuch, Trent Thornton, Elvis Luciano, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichete have all made their big league debuts in Toronto this season.) Cavan Biggio was back at 2B after a complete day off yesterday. Justin Smoak got the half day off, serving as DH today with Rowdy Tellez at 1B. The outfield consisted of Jonathan Davis between Billy McKinney and Derek Fisher. Reese McGuire was behind the plate. Could the Blue Jays get their first W in September? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th as Austin Meadows singled home Avisail Garcia
• Four batters later a bases loaded walk by Willy Adames forced in Tommy Pham
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Reese McGuire singled home Rowdy Tellez
• A batter later, Jonathan Davis singled home Vadimir Guerrero Jr.
• A batter later, Justin Smoak scored on a sac fly by Billy McKinney
• Anthony Kay pitching line: 5.2IP  4H 2R (both earned) 3BB 8K 92 pitches (53 for strikes)
• Charlie Morton pitching line: 6IP 5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 10K 92 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Rays tied the game in the bottom of the 7th as Daniel Robertson doubled scoring Kean Wong
• The Rays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Michael Brosseau scored on a sac fly by Travis d'Arnaud
• A batter later, Robertson singled scoring Kevin Kiermaier
• Oliver Drake pitched a perfect 9th for his second save of the season
• Final score: Rays 5 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• A solid MLB debut by Anthony Kay, who fired 5.2 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking three and striking out eight. In a bit of irony, Jason Adam gave Kay a chance to get his first big league win in his first big league start, then promptly took it away in 11 pitches.
• Jonathan Davis was the only Blue Jay with multiple hits today (2-4, RBI)
• Cavan Biggio (2 walks) and Justin Smoak (1-3, run scored, walk) also got on base twice
• Rowdy Tellez (run scored), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (run scored) and Reese McGuire had the other 3 Blue Jays hits today
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to salvage the second-last road trip of the year with a win. Jacob Waguespack is pitching against Rays righty Tyler Glasnow, who is pitching in a big league game for the 1st time since May 10th, when he sustained a mild forearm strain pitching against the Yankees