After trouncing the Rays last night on the back of Alek Manoah's best start in the majors and a team effort offensively, the Blue Jays were looking to make it two in a row vs. the AL-East leading Rays. Danny Jansen was activated from the 10-day IL and Riley Adams was sent back to AAA. Ross Stripling got the start. George Springer was back in CF after a couple of days as DH. Bo Bichette got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it two in a row vs. the Rays? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as George Springer bashed a solo blast to left-center
- The Rays tied the game in the top of the 5th as Manuel Margot smacked a solo blast just over the fence in left-center
- Ross Stripling pitching line: 5.2IP 2H 1R (earned) 3BB 5K 97 pitches (56 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a foelder's choice hit by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and throwing error by Joey Wendle that scored Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- A batter later, Cavan Biggio singled scoring Spiringer and Teoscar Hernandez
- A batter after that, Santiago Espinal hammered a 2-run bomb to left-center; also scoring Biggio
- Shane McClanahan pitching line: 5.1IP 3H 3R (2 earned) 2BB 5K 71 pitches (44 for strikes)
- The Rays got a pair back in the top of the 9th as Kevin Kiermaier singled scoring Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Rays 3
My Take:
- Ross Stripling battled his way through 5.2 innings, giving up a run on 2 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5. It was not his most efficient outing, taking 97 pitches to get 17 outs.
- Jordan Romano had a rocky outing in the 9th, walking the first 2 he faced, but limiting the damage to a 2-run single.
- Adam Cimber is looking like a diamond in the rough, He pitched an inning today and gave up just a 2-out double
- Tim Mayza also looked sharp striking out 3 in 1.1 innings
- It will be interesting to see how much leash Reese McGuire is given. After a brutal 2020 campaign where he had just 3 hits in 41AB, McGuire has taken the bull by the horns after both Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk went down with injuries and came into this one batting .302. McGuire was 0-3 with a strikeout today.
- The Blue Jays won this one on a big 5-run 6th inning highlighted by Santiago Espinal's first career HR
- The Blue Jays were 3-5 wiith runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series sweep as they wrap up the home portion of the schedule prior to the all-star break. Robbie Ray gets the start against an announced Rays starter.
