Saturday, September 28, 2019

Game #161 Tampa Bay Rays (96-65) @Toronto Blue Jays (66-95) - game recap

Trent Thronton threw 5 shutout innings in his final start of the season as the Blue Jays knocked off the Rays 4-1

It was the second last day of the season and while the Blue Jays can't knock the Rays out of the playoffs, they have a chance of forcing them to travel to Oakland. Trent Thornton got his final start of the season. Vlad was a last minute scratch due to a sore knee and Brandon Drury was in his spot at the hot corner. I guess Montoyo's getting tired because for some odd reason he put Teoscar Hernandez, who strikes out A LOT at the top of the lineup. Richard Urena got his second straight start at SS in place of the injured Bo Bichette. Justin Smoak got the half day off, serving as the DH with Rowdy Tellez at 1B. Anthony Alford actually got a start in LF. Danny Jansen was behind the plate for probably the final time this season. Could the Blue Jays snap the five game losing streak against the Rays? Here is today's game recap.

Game highlights:
  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 1st as Teoscar Hernandez led off the game hammering a solo bomb to dead center
  • Two batters later, Randal Grichuk tripled home Cavan Biggio
  • A batter later, Rowdy Tellez singled scoring Grichuk
  • Trent Thornton pitching line: 5IP 1H 0R 4BB 8K 103 pitches (62 for strikes)
  • Ryan Yarborough pitching line: 5IP 5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 3K 79 pitches (46 for strikes)
  • The Rays got a run back in the top of the 7th as Matt Duffy smacked a solo shot to left-center
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Richard Urena doubled home Danny Jansen
  • Ken Giles pitched a perfect 9th for his 23rd save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 4 Rays 1
My take:
  • In his final start of the 2019 season, Trent Thornton allowed just one hit over 5 innings. However, he walked four batters. Command has been an issue for the rookie all season and those walks drive up the pitch count. He had thrown 36 pitches before getting the 3rd out in the 1st inning. He was lucky he was facing a Rays team likely not at their best after spending the night celebrating making the playoffs
  • After jumping all over Rays starter Ryan Yarborough for 3 runs on 4 hits, the Blue Jays bats were pretty quiet the rest of the way, with 4 hits, 3 walks and a hit batter the final 7 innings
  • Rowdy Tellez (2-4, RBI) and Teoscar Hernandez (1-2, leadoff HR, 2 walks) had good days at the plate
  • Up next, the Blue Jays wrap up the season with a final game against the Rays. A win would all but certainly force TB to go on the road to Oakland for a WC game. Blake Snell gets the start against Clay Buchholz