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| Daulton Varsho hit 2 home runs and drove in runs in a losing effort as the Rays came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 11-9 |
After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened a 9-game, 3-team home stand against the Rays, who took the season series 9-4 last year, outscoring the Blue Jays 56-45. The Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to a season high 5 games and put their record above .500 for the 1st time since April 21 (last season they slipped below .500 for good April 24) Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Anthony Santander got the half day off as DH with Nathan Lukes in LF and George Springer in RF. Daulton Varsho was back in CF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 5 games and get back above .500? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Brandon Lowe singled scoring Danny Jansen and Chandler Simpson
- Two batters later, Jonathan Aranda whacked a 2-run blast to right-center; also scoring Lowe
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as Bo Bichette belted a 2-run jack, just over the wall in left-center; also scoring Tyler Heineman
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Daulton Varsho hammered a solo bomb to the second deck
- Shane Baz pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 3R (all earned) 2BB 6K 86 pitches (61 for strikes)
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 6th as Kameron Misner scored on a mssed catch error charged to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 5.1IP 5H 5R (4 earned) 3BB 4K 83 pitches (55 for strikes)
- The Rays added a run in the top of the 7th as Jansen whacked a solo blast to left
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Ernie Clement drilled a solo blast to left
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Varsho annihilated a 3-run bomb off the basing of the 5th deck, also scoring Guerrero Jr. and George Springer
- The Rays tied it up in the top of the 9th as Simpson singled scoring Travis Jankowski
- Two batter later, Junior Caminero hammered a grand slam off the basing of the 4th deck; also scoring Christopher Morel, Simpson and Lowe
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Bichette dpubled scoring Myles Straw
- A batter later, Guerrero Jr. doubled home Bichette
- Mason Montgomery got the last out for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: Rays 11 Blue Jays 9
- Jose Berrios had a rougb 3rd inning, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and a hit by pitch on ex-Jays catcher Danny Jansen, who's been a magnet getting hit by pitches in his career.. He also walked a pair in the 1st inning. Berrios did settle down and retire 7 straight after giving up the 4-spit in the fateful 3rd inning. The Blue Jays ace can be hot and cold, depending on the start.
- The bullpen gave up a further 6 runs - 4 of which were the result of a grand slam given up by closer Jeff Hoffman, who has been struggling lately and his ERA is creeping up (6.05 after tonight's disaster), - on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3 over the last 3.2 innings. Chad Green and Braydon Fisher both retired every batter they faced
- Daulton Varsho went deep twice, including a mammoth 3-run bomb off the basing of the 5th deck that gave the Blue Jays a brief lead. Bo Bichette has had a hot stick lately. He also went deep for 2 runs and drove in another to start a failed rally in the 9th inning.
- Everyone but Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger reached base at least once and all but Lukes, Barger andAnthony Santander had a hit
- This season is very much shaping up to be similar to last season, where the Blue Jays were unable to get above .500 after April 24. The Blue Jays have been at or below .500 since April 21.
- The Blue Jays were 4-10 with runners in scoring position.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Chris Bassitt start against Rays righty Ryan Pepiot
