After dropping yesterday's loss with a flat effort from the offense, the Blue Jays were looking to maintain their WC spot. Robbie Ray got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Jake Lamb was at the hot corner and Randal Grichuk was in CF. Could the Blue Jays win their 6th straight series? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Bo Bichette whacked a three-run shot to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen; also scoring Marcus Semien and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- The Blue Jays added a rnn in the bottom of the 3rd on a sac fly by Bichette that scored Semien
- The Rays got one back in the top of the 5th as Mike Zunino smacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Bichette singled home George Springer
- A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez singled home Guerrero Jr.
- Michael Wacha pitching line: 6IP 7H 6R (all earned) 2BB 5K 95 pitches (66 for strikes)
- Robbie Ray pitching line: 7IP 4H 1R (earned) 0BB 13K 101 pitches (75 for strikes)
- The Rays got a pair back in the top of the 8th as Brett Phillips hammered a 2-run bomb to right-center; also scoring Taylor Walls
- Jordan Romano threw a perfect 9th for his 18th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Rays 3
My Take:
- After an off-start last time out, Robbie Ray returned to ace form, allowing a run on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 13 over 7 innings. He really only made the one mistake pitch to Mike Zunino.
- The bullpen had mixed results today. Joakim Soria gave up a 2-run shot in the 8th to make things interesting and Jordan Romano threw a perfect 9th to slam the door shut.
- The offense was basically the 4 all-stars. Bo Bichette drove in 5 runs, including a 3-run shot in the 1st inning. Vlad had a pair of hits, drew a walk and scored twice. Marcus Semien had a hit, drew a walk and scored twice. Teo drove in the final Blue Jays run of the day
- Batters 6-9 (Alejandro Kirk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Randal Grichuk and Jake Lamb) were a combined 0-13
- The Blue Jays were 3-5 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the WC race, Boston looked headed to an extra innings win over Seattle and NY/Baltimore was scoreless in the second. If the playoffs started tomorrow the Blue Jays would host the Yankees in the WC game
- Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays face the Minnesota Twins. The Twins wopn 4 of the 7 meeetings in the season series in 2019 and outscored the Blue Jays 36-20. Jose Berrios and Josh Donaldson will both be facing their former teams, although Berrios may face the same fate as George Springer vs. the Astros and miss playing in a game against his former team due to injury. Berrios left his start yesterday with an abdominal strain. He probably wouldn't be slated to start against his former team this weekend anyway if kept on a typical five day schedule, but would line up for the 4-game series in Minnesota next week. Friday's pitching matchup will be Hyun-Jin Ryu against Twins righty Michael Pineda
