| Spencer Horwitz reached base twice in a 13-0 shutout loss to the Rays |
After a huge win on the strength of a 4-run 8th inning, the Ble Jays were looking to make it 2 straight wins and 11 series wins. Chris Bassitt got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Davis Schneider was in LF. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and 11 series wins? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Brandon Lowe hammered a solo bomb to the 3rd deck in right
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Isaac Paredes doubled scoring Richie Palacios
- A batter later, Lowe doubled home Paredes
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 5IP 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 6K 97 pitches (61 for strikes)
- The Rays added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Alex Jackson singled scoring Amed Rosario and Taylor Walls
- Two batters later, Paredes double scoring Jonny LeDuca and Jackson
- Taj Bradley pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 1BB 7K 83 pitches (56 for strikes)
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 7th as Jackson doubled scoring Rosario
- Two batters later, Walls was forced in by a bases loaded walk to Paredes
- A batter later, Lowe singled scoring Jackson
- A batter after that, Palacios scored on a sac fly by Randy Azorena
- A batter later, Josh Lowe singled scoring Paredes
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 9th on a fielder's choice hit by Josh Lowe that scored Brandon Lowe
- Final score: Rays 13 Blue Jays 0
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt battled through 5 innings. giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6. He dealt with base runners in every inning and wasn't terribly efficient today. Nonetheless, he might have been the best Blue Jays pitcher today.
- The bullpen was an utter disaster, giving up 10 runs on 11 hits while walking 5 and striking out 2 over the last 4 innings. Every reliever gave up at least one run. The only reliever who should get a pass is Ernie Clement, who is not a pitcher by trade
- The offense was even worse. Five total base runners and just two in the final 3 innings. In fact, the only real chance to score was in the 1st inning when the Blue Jays got runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out (it was the only time the Blue Jays got a runner past 1st base). Spencer Horwitz was the only Blue Jay to reach base more than once (double in the 1st inning and drew a walk in the 9th inning)
- The Blue Jays were 1-3 with runners in scoring position with no runs driven in
- Up next, the Blue Jays continue the home stand as they take on the Texas Rangers, who won 6 of 7 in the season series last season, outscoring the Blue Jays 51-20. Yusei Kikuchi will very likely be making his final start in a Blue Jays uniform as he is expected to be traded to a contender prior to next Tuesday's trade deadline. The Rangers will counter with lefty Andrew Heaney.
