Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Game #150 Toronto Blue Jays (83-67) @ TampaBay Rays (93-58) - game recap

 

Marcus Semien whacked a 2-run shot in the 9th of a 6-4 loss to the Rays

After a 7th straight series win and 2 straight wins over the weekend, the Blue Jays embarked on their final road trip of the season, beginning tonight at the Trop in Tampa Bay. It's been a competitive season series thus far with the Rays winning 9 of the 16 games thus far and outscoring the Blue Jays 68-67. Ace Robbie Ray got the start tonight with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Randal Grichuk was in CF and Jake Lamb was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays make it three straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Teoscar Hernandez smashed a solo bomb to the opposite-field in right-center
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 5th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. whacked a solo blast to left-center
  • The Rays took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Yandy Diaz drilled a 3-run bomb to left-center; also scoring Taylor Walls and Kevin Kiermaier 
  • Robbie Ry pitching line: 4.2IP 7H 3R (all earned) 2B 5K 97 pitches (69 for strikes)
  • Shane Baz pitching line: 5IP 2H 2R (both earned) 0BB 5K 65 pitches (51 for strikes)
  • The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Kiermaier singled scoring Joey Wendle. Kiermaier was thrown out trying to score after Jake Lamb made a brutal throwing error
  • The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Manuel Margot singled scoring Diaz
  • The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Wendle drilled a solo bomb to right
  • The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 9th as Marcus Semien drilled a 2-run bomb to left; also scoring George Springer
  • Dietrich Enns got the final out for his 2nd game of the season
  • Final score: Rays 6 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

  • Robbie Ray battled through 4.2 innings. It was one of those days every pitcher goes through where he didn't have his best start. Ray made one mistake pitch that gave the Rays the lead and the Blue Jays could not recover. Ray did retire 7 in a row at one point
  • The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and a terrible throwing error by Jake Lamb over the final 3.1 innings. It essentially put the game away.
  • The offense did essentially nothing through the first 8 innings. Teo and Lourdes whacked solo shots and the Blue Jays were actually winning in the 5th until Ray gave up a 3-run shot. Through 8 innings, the oonly base runner the Blue Jays managed was thanks to a fielding error by Rays SS Taylor Walls. The Blue Jays offense got a pair back in the 9th off a Semien 2-run shot then 2 walks and a hit by Danny Jansen to load the bases. Then Breyvic Valera was called out on strikes to end the game
  • The Blue Jays were 1-2 with runners in scoring position
  • In terms of the WC race, the Yankees won and the Mariners were leading the A's while the Red Sox were idle. The Yankees are 0.5 games back of the Blue Jays for the 2nd WC spot and for the moment the A's are 1.5 games back and the Mariners are 3.5 games back
  • Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series as Alek Manoah pitches against Rays righty Drew Rasmussen