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| Jose Berrios threw 5 strong innibgs in a 6-3 win over the Rays, ending the Rays undefeated team |
After dropping the series finale yesterday against the Tigers, the Blue Jays opened a weekend set against the hottest team in baseball, as well as the only undefeated team and their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays. Last season, the Rays edged the Blue Jays 10-9 in the season series and outscored the Blue Jays 82-73. Jose Berrios got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after the half day off as DH yesterday. Matt Chapman was back in the lineup and at the hot corner after a full day off yesterday. Kevin Kiermaier was in CF and Daulto Varsho was in LF. Santiiago Espinal was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend with a win and end the Rays undefeated streak? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as George Springer led off with a solo bomb to left-center
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd on a ground rule double by Bo Bichette that scored Kevin Kiermaier
- The Rays got one back in the top of the 4th as Luke Raley singled scoring Brandon Lowe
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th on a bases loaded walk to Alejandro Kirk that scored Bichette
- A batter later. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored on a bases loaded walk to Santiago Espinal
- A batter after that, Daulton Varsho and Kirk scored on a fielder's choice hit by Danny Jansen. Everyone was safe on the play thanks to a missed catch error charged to Lowe
- Drew Rasmussen pitching line: 4.1IP 8H 5R (all earned) 4BB 4K 93 pitches (59 for strikes)
- Jose Berrios piching line: 5IP 4H 1R (earned) 0BB 6K 77 pitches (49 for strikes)
- The Rays got one back in the top of the 7th as Josh Lowe belted a solo bomb to dead center
- A batter later, Christian Bethancourt hammered a solo bomb to left-center
- Jordan Romano threw a perfect 9th for his 5th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Rays 3
My Take:
- The good Jose Berrios showed up tonight. The inconsistent righty allowed a ru on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 6 over 5 innings. When he pitches like he did tonight, you can see why he was selected to the all-star game in 2018and 2019 and finished 9th in Cy Young voting in 2021. Then he has shaky starts like the first two of this season, where he gave up a combined 14 runs.
- The bullpen gave up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 over the final 4 innings. Yimi Garcia was responsible for the 2 runs against as he gave up a pair of back to back solo shots
- Offensively, the Blue Jays were ready to take on the undefeated Rays. Springer got things started with a bang with a leadoff HR. The Blue Jays showed great patience and smart base running, manufacturing 4 runs off two bases loaded walks and a two-run fielders choice/missed catch error
- Every Blue Jays starter except Brandon Belt reach base at least once and all but Belt, Matt Chapman, Santiago Espinal and Danny Jansen had at least one hit
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for two in a row and their 3rd series win of the season. Yusei Kikuxhi starts against Rays righty Calvin Faucher
