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| Bo Bichette hit his 4th HR in 4 games in a 12-4 rout over the Rays |
After splitting the first two games of the homestand, including a wild 14-11 loss in which the Blue Jays had 2-run HR in 4 consecutive innings and half of the Marlins runs were unearned due to defensive miscues, the Blue Jays were looking to get back on track, facing the Tampa Bay Rays. To remind you readers, this is the team the Blue Jays dropped two of three two on the opening weekend and that the Blue Jays really should have swept to be honest. Despite having a complete day off yesterday with the team idle, Vlad was DH'ing (could he be nursing a minor injury). Rowdy Tellez got the start at 1st base. Tanner Roark got the start and was looking for his 2nd win in a Blue Jays uniform. Otherwise, the lineup was the same as Wednesday's wild game. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend off with a win? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Brandon Lowe cranked a 2-run shot to right-center; also scoring Austin Meadows
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 2nd as Lowe singled home Meadows
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Rowdy Tellez whacked a 2-run blast to right also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th as Cavan Biggio smashed a solo drive to right
- Tanner Roark pitching line: 4IP 4H 3R (all earned) 4BB 4K 82 pitches (45 for strikes)
- Trevor Richards pitching line: 4.1IP 4H 3R (all earned) 3BB 3K 82 pitches (46 for strikes)
- The Rays took the lead in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Hunter Renfroe that scored Willy Adames
- The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 6th as Randal Grichuk lined a solo shot to left
- Four batters later, Bo Bichette hammered a 3-run bomb to right-center; also scoring Tellez and Biggio
- Two batters later, Teoscar Hernandez smashed a solo bomb to dead center
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th on a wild pitch by Jose Alvarado that scored Danny Jansen
- Two batters later, Hernandez crushed a 3-run blast to dead center; also scoring Biggio and Bichette
- Final score: Blue Jays 12 Rays 4
My Take:
- Both starting pitchers had very similar outings. Both threw 82 pitches, but Richards had an extra strike and walked one less and struck out one less. For Roark, Austin Meadows was his main nemesis today. The Rays left fielder drove in three runs off the Blue Jays righty. Roark also struggled with command, walking 4 batters and averaging over 20 pitches each inning. Typically, you want your starters to be throwing around 15 pitches to get deeper into the game. Hopefully Roark can iron out the kinks in his side sessions the next few days.
- Boy does it feel good to beat a team that can be a bear to play against
- The bats are really coming alive as the Blue Jays get acquainted, and in many cases, reacquainted with their home ball park for the summer. The Blue Jays had 6 more home runs today, including 2 3-run bombs.
- Everyone got on base at least once, except for Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
- The bullpen had another solid game, holding the Rays to 1 run, 1 hit and 2 walks. Anthony Kay was the only reliever to have a rough outing, allowing the lone run on the lone hit and walking 2 of the batters.
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for their first series win of the season. Chase Anderson gets his second start of the season. The Rays will counter with lefty Ryan Yarbrough
