Game #2 Toronto Blue Jays (1-1) @ Tampa Bay Rays (1-1) - game recap

Matt Shoemaker threw 6 strong innings in a losing effort as the Blue Jays fell to the Rays 4-1

After a solid opening day win at Tropicana Field, the Blue Jays were looking to make it two in a row at their own personal house of horrors. Matt Shoemaker got his first regular season start since tearing his ACL in a rundown 15 months ago. Reese McGuire got his first start of the season behind the plate. Santiago Espinal made his big league debut at the hot corner, with Travis Shaw moving across the diamond to cover 1st base and Vlad DH'ing today. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also made his season debut after missing last night with a minor injury. Coild the Blue JJays make it 2 in a row? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Ryan Yarbrough pitching line: 4.1IP 4H 0R 1BB 1K 69 pitches (49 for strikes)
• The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 6th as Ji-Man Choi doubled home Mike Brosseau
• Matt Shoemaker pitching line: 6IP 3H 1R (earned) 2BB 4K 81 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 6th as Reese McGuire crushed a solo bomb to right-center
• The Rays retook the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Brandon Lowe tripled home Choi and Hunter Renfroe
• A batter later, Lowe scored on a balk by Sam Gaviglio
• Oliver Drake pitched a perfect 9th for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Rays 4 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

•  Another waste of a solid start by a Blue Jays pitcher. Matt Shoemaker picked up where he left off before tearing his ACL, firing 6 strong innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 4. I would have liked to see him throw an extra inning, but it was his first start since the injury, and like everyone else he may have only built himself up to throw 80 pitches today.
• The Blue Jays stranded 8 base runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the 4th
• Cavan Biggio continues to swing a hot bat, getting 2 more hits today and walking once
• Up next, the Blue Jays wrap up the three game set before heading to Wsshington for a 4 game series that starts Monday and the Blue Jays will be the home team for the latter 2 games. Thomas Hatch makes his big league debut for the Blue Jays tomorrow against 2018 Cy Young winner Blake Snell