Game #80 Tampa Bay Rays (47-35) @ Toronto Blue Jays (42-38) - game recap

 

Alek Manoah threw seven shutout innings in an 11-1 rout over the Rays 

After dropping two of three to the Mariners, the Blue Jays opened a weekend set against the Rays, who have won 5 of the first 7 games of the season series and outscored the Blue Jays 29-20 thus far. Tyler Chatwood was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained neck. Patrick Murphy was optioned to AAA. Righty Anthony Castro and lefty Nick Allgeyer were recalled from AAA. Alek Manoah got the start. Same lineup as yesterday except Canavan Biggio was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid? Here is tonight's game recap

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as George Springer hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center also scoring Bo Bichette 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled scoring Cavan Biggio
• A batter later, Reese McGuire singled home Randal Grichuk 
• A batter after that, Gurriel Jr. scored on a fielder's choice hit by Marcus Semien
• Two batters later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Semien
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th on a wild pitch by Jeffrey Springs that scored Teoscar Hernandez
• Luis Patino pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 7R (5 earned) 1BB 5K 94 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Semien whacked a solo blast to left
• Two batters later, Guerrero Jr. hammered a 2-run bomb to right; also scoring Bichette 
• Alek Manoah pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 1BB 10K 109 pitches (71 for strikes)
• The Rays got one back in the top of the 8th as Brandon Lowe doubled scoring Francisco Meija
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Santiago Espinal singled scoring Semien
• Final score: Blue Jays 11 Rays 1

My Take:

• Alek Manoah had the best start of his career with seven shutout innings. He had a no-hitter going through 5 innings until Francisco Meija got a 1-out double off him in the 6th. Mahoah retired 12 in a row and struck out 7 in a row as well. If he keeps pitching like he has his last two starts, he may see some votes for rookie of the year
• The bullpen gave up a run on two hits. Nick Allgeyer made his MLB debut in the 9th and retired the side in order
• Offensively, the Blue Jays jumped all over Rays starter Luis Patino, scoring 6 runs on 4 hits, a walk and a couple of fielder's choices over the first 2 innings
• Every Blue Jays starter except Randal Grichuk had at least 1 hit 
• The Blue Jays were 4-9 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for 2 wins in a row. Ross Stripling gets the start against Rays lefty Shane McIanahan