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| Whit Merrifield hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs in a 10-5 loss to the Rays |
After dropping yesterday's game against the Phillies in extra innings, the Blue Jays continued the road trip, opening a four-game set against the Rays tonight. The Rays have won 8 of 15 meetings in the season series and have outscored the Blue Jays 60-52. Jose Berrios got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Teo was back in the field after DH'ing. Whit Merrifield was in LF and Cavan Biggio was at 2B. Alejandro Kirk served as DH. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Bo Bichette doubled scoring George Springer
- The Rays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Jonathan Aranda drilled a leadoff solo bomb to right
- Three batters later, Randy Arozarena doubled scoring Manuel Margot
- A batter later, Arozarena scored on a wild pitch by Jose Berrios
- JT Chargois pitching line: 1IP 2H 1R (earned) 0BB 1K 21 pitches (15 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 2nd as Teoscar Hernandez hammered a solo bomb to left
- Two batters later, Whit Merrifield belted a solo bomb to left
- The Rays retook the lead in the bottom of the 2nd as Manuel Msrgot singled scoring Ji-Man Choi
- A batter later, Wander Franco singled scoring Aranda
- A batter after that, Arozarena singled home Margot
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 2IP 7H 6R (all earned) 1BB 1K 74 pitches (48 for strikes)
- The Rays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 4th as Franco doubled scoring Taylor Walls and Aranda
- Two batters later, David Peralta singled home Franco
- The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Peralta doubled scoring Arozarena
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 9th as Merrifield belted a 2-run blast to dead center; also scoring Gabriel Moreno
- Final score: Rays 10 Blue Jays 5
My Take:
- It turned into a bullpen game for both teams, although only the Rays planned it that way. Jose Berrios was rocked for 6 runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1 over 2 innings. He threw a staggering 74 pitches in the 2 innings, including a staggering 43 in the 2nd and final inning for the embattled Blue Jays starter. Given his inconsistency, it's risky to give Berrios the first start in a WC series. At this point, I'd start him the 2nd game and only if the Blue jays won the 1st game and he would be on a tight leash
- The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 4 hits while walking 4 and striking out 7 over the final 6 innings. Acquired in a trade with the Royals on July 16, Foster Griffin made his Blue Jays debut. He pitched the final 2 innings and allowed a hit and a walk and struck out 2. He certainly earned another look
- Another ex-Royal did damage today. Whit Merrifield hit a pair of HR and drove in three runs. Teo added a solo shot and Bo Bichette knocked in a run to give the Blue Jays their only lead. The Merrifeld and Teo solo blasts in the 2nd tied the game and until the 2-run shot by Merrifield in the 9th, the Blue Jays offence was dormant
- The Blue Jays got no favors from other teams with the Mariners and Orioles both winning. The Blue Jays remain in the 1st WC spot, a half game up on the Rays and 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners. The Orioles remain 4 games back of the Mariners for the final WC spot
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the weekend series and snap the 2-game skid. Mitch White starts against Rays lefty Jeffrey Springs
