After a thrilling weekend where the Blue ays took three of four from the Orioles including 2 come-from-behind wins and a 22-7 shellacking, the Blue Jays returned home for what will essentially be a 14-day home and home series against the Rays and Twins with series being played a week apart. First up is the Rays, who are likely going to be the AL East champs. The Rays have won 8 of the 13 games in the season series thus far, outscoring the Blue Jays 62-53. Lefty Ryan Borucki was recalled from AAA with Trent Thornton being optioned back. Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer was back in the lineup as DH after the day off yesterday. Vlad was back in the field after a half day off as DH yesterday. Randal Grichuk was in CF and Breyvic Valera was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays make it 4 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights;
- Collin McHugh pitching line: 2.1IP 3H 0R 0BB 1K 36 pitches (24 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled scoring Teoscar Hernandez
- A batter later, Randal Grichuk doubled home Alejandro Kirk
- A batter after that, Breyvic Valera singled scoring Gurriel Jr. and Grichuk
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Bo Bichette smacked a solo shot to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- Three batters later, Gurriel Jr. singled scoring Hernandez
- Two batters laer, Valera singled home Gurriel
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drilled a screamer just inside the foul pole in left
- Alek Manoah pitching line: 8IP 1H 0R 0BB 10K 97 pitches (62 for strikes)
- The Rays got one back in the top of the 9th as Austin Meadows hammered a solo bomb into the second deck in right
- Final score: Blue Jays 8 Rays 1
My Take:
- Alek Manoah was near perfect today, retiring the first 14 batters he faced until Joey Wendle broke up the perfect game with a 2-out single. Manoah then retired the next 9 batters before hitting Wendle with a pitch with one out in the 8th. Montoyo should have let him try to finish the game.
- Unfortnuately, the shutout big was lost in the 9th by Jays killer Austin Meadows who whacled a no-doubter to the secong deck in left
- Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Breyvic Valera combined to go
- 14-16 with 5 runs scored and 6 RBI
- Vlad is now in sole possession of the HR race and only 4 RBI behind Jose Abreu. He leads the AL in batting average and HR so he has a shot at being the first Blue Jay to win the triple crown
- Every Blue Jay except Marcus Semien and George Springer had at least 1 hit and all but Semien, Springer and Kirk scored at least one once
- In terms of the WC race, the Yankees won and the Red Sox and Mariners were knotted at one in the 7th. If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Blue Jays would host the Red Sox in the WC game
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for 5 straight wins. Jose Berrios starts against Rays righty Drew Rasmussen
