| Bo Bichette had a pair of hits in an 11-0 shutout loss to the Rays. |
After beating the Rays yesterday in a game where Vlad became the youngest Blue Jay to hit 100 career HR, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to three games ahead of a crucial weekend series against the Orioles. Kevin Gausman got the start with Gabriel Moreno behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. George Springer got the half day off as DH with Jackie Bradley Jr. in CF. Whit Merrifield was in LF and Teo was back in RF after the full day off yesterday. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Rene Pinto singled scoring David Peralta
- Two batters later, Yandy Diaz bashed a 3-run blast to left; also scoring Isaac Paredes and Pinto
- Shane McClanahan pitching line: 5IP 3H 0R 1BB 5K 69 pitches (46 for strikes)
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 7th as Paredes drilled a sool bomb to the second deck in left
- Kevin Gausman pitching line: 7IP 6H 5R (all earned) 1BB 7K 103 pitches (75 for strikes)
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 9th as Paredes singled scoring Peralta
- Four batters later, Randy Arozarena singled scoring Pinto
- A batter later, Wander Franco singled home Jose Siri
- Two batters later, Manuel Margot doubled scoring Franco, Arozarena and Taylor Walls
- Final score: Rays 11 Blue Jays 0
My Take:
- Kevin Gausman had a rough day, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7. He was taken yard twice for two of the runs and gave up a rare walk, so his command was a tad off. You have to wonder if the failed challenge on the 1st run upset Gausman as two batters later, Yandy Diaz smacked a 3-run shot over the wall in left. After the 3-run shot, Gausman retired 16 of the final 18 batters he faced and just allowed one more run on a solo shot by Isaac Paredes to start the 7th. Gausman should start one of the WC games.
- Trevor Richards had a very rough 9th inning, giving up 5 runs on 3 hits while walking 2 in just 0.2 of an inning. David Phelps took over and proceeded to load the bases and then allow a bases clearing double with 2 runs being charged to Richards and 1 run to Phelps. Richards has to be on the bubble with respect to a playoff roster spot.
- Offensively the Blue Jays laid an egg, getting shutout for the 8th time this season. Bo Bichette was the only Blue Jay with multiple hits. Gabriel Moreno, Santiago Espinal, Matt Chapman and Vlad each had a single base hit. Whit Merrifield drew the lone walk on the day.
- The damage in the WC standings was minimal with the Mariners and Orioles both idle today. Both teams gained a half game on the Blue Jays, who are tied with the Mariners for top spot in the WC standings. The Mariners hold the tiebreaker for winning the season series over the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are a half game up on the Rays and 5 games up on the Orioles, who they face next.
- Up next, the Blue Jays play the most important series of the season to date against the Orioles, who are just 4.5 games back of the final WC spot and 5 games back of the Blue Jays. The extreme good and bad outcomes are putting potentially the final nail in the Orioles coffin with a sweep or face being just 2 games ahead of the Orioles for that final playoff spot if the Orioles get the series sweep. By the way, the Orioles have already swept a series against the Blue Jays August 8-9 (yes the 3rd game was rained out and the Blue Jays swept the double header September 5th, but it was a month later). While the Orioles have the edge in the season series having won 7 of the 13 games so far, the Blue Jays have outscored the Orioles 70-65. Jordan Lyles starts for the Orioles. The Blue Jays have not named a starter for tomorrow, though it is likely to be a bullpen day.
