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| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got a hit and drew a walk in a 13-0 shutout loss to the Rays |
After a second straight 3-1 loss due to the inept offense, the Blue Jays were trying to snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time this season. Tyler Heineman was placed on the 7-day concussion list after several blows off his mask his last start behind the plate against the Padres. Ali Sanchez was recalled from AAA-ball and got the start behind the plate with Chris Bassitt pitching. Lefty Josh Walker was DFA'd. George Springer was back in RF after a half day off as DH yesterday (Anthony Santander served as DH today). Jonatan Clase was in LF and Myles Straw was in CF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time this season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Brandon Lowe whacked a 2-run blast to right-center; also scoring Josh Lowe
- The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Junior Caminera doubled scoring Josh Lowe
- A batter later, Brandon Lowe scored on a fielder's choice hit by Jordan Aranda
- A batter after that, Chandler Simpson singled scoring Caminera
- Two batters later, Aranda was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Kameron Misner
- A batter later, Ben Rortvedt singled scoring Simpson and Taylor Wall
- A batter later, Misner scored on a ground-rule double hit by Yandy Diaz
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 4IP 9H 5R (all earned) 2BB 2K 82 pitches (5-1 for strikes)
- The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 7th on a ground out hit by Rortvedt that scored Walls
- A batter later, Misner scored on a ground out hit by Diaz
- Two batters later, Curtis Mead smacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right; also scoring Christopher Morel
- Ryan Pepiot pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 1BB 5K 91 pitches (60 for strikes)
- Final score: Rays 13 Blue Jays 0
My Take:
- Chris Bassitt battled through 4 innings, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2. Before he fateful 5th inning, he had barely sat down in the dugout and was forced to go right back out since the Blue Jays batters were swing happy and went down in order on jusr 4 pitches. It was clear early that the heat was effecting Bassitt's effectiveness. This blowout is not on him
- The bullpen was even worse. Mason Fluharty allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk and didn't record an out. Paxson Schutltz also gave up 4 runs, but all 4 were unearned. The best pitcher on the day was a poaition player, infielder Michael Stefanic. He retired every batter he faced on just 7 pitches
- The offence mustered just 4 hits and drew a walk. The most egregious inning was the top of the 4th where they basically swung at the first pitch and barely let Chris Bassitt sit down after a grueling 25 pitch inning for him. Vlad was the only Blue Jay to reach base multiple times. It is high time to give Anthony Santander at least a 10-day IL stint to reset himself and heal the nagging hip and shoulder injuries. Santander struck out 3 times.
- It was so bad today offensively, that the Blue Jays didn't even get a runner into scoring position.
- Fun fact, Stefanic was the 1st Blue Jays pitcher to get a hit since Trent Thornton got a pair of hits May 14, 2019 against the Giants
- Up next, the Blue Jays head to Texas to take on the Rangers. The Blue Jays won the season series 4-2 last year, outscoring the Rangers 32-26. Kevin Gausman starts tomorrow's game against Rangers righty Jacob deGrom.
