The Blue Jays wrapped up the final homestand in Dunedin. Next home stand they'll be i Buffalo either for the duration of the season or until they get permission to play in Buffaloo. They were looking to snap a season-high 5 game losing streak and also snap Tampa Bay's season-long 10-game winning streak. The bullpen has had a rough go of it lately with 2 blown saves and giving up late runs in a tied ball game. Witth that in mind, the Blue Jays made a switch today. Initially, Ross Stripling was slated to start today's matinee. However, he's had rough starts to games and spotted the Red Sox last start and the Blue Jays were unable to come back. Trent Thornton served as an opener in what became a bullpen day. Reese McGuire got the start behind the plate. Randal Grichuk got the half day off, serving as DH with Toeoscar Hernandez in RF, Jonathan Davis in CF and Lourdes Gurriel in his customary LF position. Could the Blue Jays snap the five game skid? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st on a bases loaded walk to Taylor Walls that scored Arozarena
- A batter later, Joey Wendle hammered a grand slam to left; also scoring Ji-Man Choi, Walls and Manuel Margot
- Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker was tossed out of the game for arguing balls and strikee
- Trent Thornton pitching line: 1IP 2H 5R (none earned) 2BB 2K 32 pitches (19 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 2nd as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. smacked a solo blast to left
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. anihiliated a solo bomb to dead center
- A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez whacked a solo blast to left
- Ryan Yarborough pitching line: 6IP 3H 3R (all earned) 0BB 4K 86 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 8th as Guerrero Jr. whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Rowdy Tellez
- The Rays took the lead in the top of the 10th as Austin Meadows doubled home Brett Phillips.
- Two batters later, Margot singled scoring Arozarena
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a 2-run blast to left by Marcus Semien that also scored Jonathan Davis
- The Rays retook the lead in the top of the 11th as Francisco Meija singled scoring Mike Brosseau and Walls
- Two batters later, Arozarena doubled home Wendle
- A batter later, Meija scored on a groundout by Meadows
- Two batters later, Margot tripled scoring Arozarena and Brandon Lowe
- A batter later, Brosseau singled home Margot
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Hernandez scored on a ground out by Santiago Espinal
- Final score: Rays 14 Blue Jays 8
My Take:
- The Blue Jays opted for a last minute switch to Trent Thornton as the "opener" as opposed to a traditional start for Ross Stripling as the latter was hit hard early in his recent start. The move backfired big time. Thornton gave up five runs on 2 hits (capped off by a grand slam), a pair of walks and an Espinal Santiago fielding error. None of the runs were earned thanks to the fielding error. Nonetheless, Thornton threw more balls than strikes.
- It was another rough day for the bullpen, which gave up 9 runs (7 earned) on 8 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4 over 2 innings. Ross Stripling actually was the best of the bunch, firing 7 shutout innings, giving up 2 hits and walking 2 and striking out 7. Jordan Romano followed up by striking out the side in the 9th. This is purely the result of overuse. The Blue Jays, due to injuries to the rotation, were forced to have multiple bullpen days due to lack of pitchers available that could pitch more than an inning or two
- Offensively, through 6 innings, the offense was literally three solo home runs. The Blue Jays got to the Rays bullpen a bit and credit to them for coming back twice. Sadly they could not overcome a seven run deficit. Not many teams could
- Up next, the Blue Jays hit the road for a three game set starting tomorrow at Yankee Stadium. The Blue Jays have won four of six games vs. the Yankees so far this season. Steven Matz starts against Corey Kluber, who threw a no-hitter in his last start.
