Game 1: Nate Pearson and the Blue Jays spoiled the Rays' division-clinching party tonight with a 3-0 win over Tampa Bay. The rookie righty dominated the Rays to the tune of 6.1 4 0 0 0 6, and Jordan Romano and Kirby Yates finished off the shutout as they'll have to wait at least another night to clinch. Tyler Glasnow started and pitched OK except for a couple of homers allowed to Danny Jansen and Rowdy Tellez, finishing 5.1 6 3 3 2 5. Chaz Roe went 1 2/3 scoreless and Brendan McKay pitched 2 perfect innings with a couple of whiffs to keep the game within striking distance.
Not exactly what I wanted to hear from my head scout:
He has been less effective lately, although 75 stuff is still pretty darn good.
Game 2: The Rays' woes continue as they miss out on another chance to clinch the division with an 8-5 loss to Toronto. The win was big for the Jays, who are now in the 2nd wild card spot in the AL, 1 1/2 games up on both the White Sox and Royals. The game was pretty much over in the first couple of innings when Toronto raced out to a 5-0 lead against Rich Hill featuring homers from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Bo Bichette. Hill settled down after that to save the bullpen and the Rays got back to within 5-2 when Kevin Kiermaier and Ji-Man Choi (!) each tripled and scored. But the Jays caught up with Hill again in the 5th when Cavan Biggio hit a 2-run blast which chased him from the game with an ugly 4.2 8 7 7 2 2 line. Andrew Kittredge gave up a run in his 2 1/3 while Hunter Strickland and Cody Reed managed scoreless innings. The Rays did score 3 times in the 6th to make it semi-interesting as Brandon Lowe hit #43, Mike Brosseau had an RBI single and Kiermaier a sac fly, but the offense could do nothing over the final 3 innings. They've now lost 14 of their last 18, not the way you want to be going into the playoffs.
Game 3: They'll still clinch the division, won't they? We're beginning to question it as the Jays completed the sweep of the Rays 3-2, sending Tampa Bay to its 15th loss in 19 games and fourth in a row. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered again, as did Rowdy Tellez to give Toronto and early 3-0 lead against Luis Patino, while Chris Flexen dominated the Rays' bats to the tune of 8 4 0 0 0 7. The Rays seem to have Jays closer Kirby Yates' number, though, and they loaded the bases with nobody out in the 9th against him and he walked Mike Brosseau to force in a run before getting an out and being yanked for Simeon Woods Richardson, who walked Mike Zunino to force in a run after Kevin Kiermaier popped out. Manuel Margot pinch-hit for Taylor Walls, who is 0-8 starting his MLB career, and grounded out to end the game. Patino pitched well after the early struggles and finished 5.2 4 3 3 2 5, while the bullpen kept it close with Chaz Roe going 1 1/3 and Rafael Dolis and Hunter Strickland turning in scoreless frames.
Team record: 93-60. Next up: They won't lose tomorrow since they're off, and then the Miami Marlins come to town for the weekend.