Game 1: Melvin Delgado was solid against his old club and Juan Davila had a big day at the plate as the Rays toppled Toronto 9-2 in their series opener at Publix Park. Delgado (5-2) pitched his best game in a Rays uniform, going 6 6 2 2 1 4 while Davila sparked the offense with an RBI double and a 2-run triple. Seth Williams (#17) and Kevin Crater (#36) contributed solo homers to the cause.
Game 2: After being routed by the Rays yesterday the Jays returned the favor with an 11-3 thumping of Tampa Bay. Gordie Ager (16-7), who finally got his ERA below 5 in his last start, saw it rocket past that mark today after a brutal 4 10 7 7 0 3 outing. Doug Johns doubled and drove in a pair for the Rays.
Game 3: The Rays' pitching woes continued as Greg Bookhart couldn't stand prosperity in his search for win #19 and the Jays eventually took a 7-6 win in 15 innings. Bookhart was staked to a 4-1 lead through 4 and a 5-4 lead after 5 but gave it all back and finished 5 7 5 5 1 6. And after the Rays regained the lead on a Juan Davila solo homer (#9) in the 8th, Willie Minier blew the save in the 9th, his 4th. Eventually Dan Anderson (2-2) gave up the winning run. Earlier Dave Frick (#11, a career-high) and Jose Castillo (#26) bashed solo homers and Davila added an RBI double to go 3-6. Despite the loss the Rays officially clinched the AL East, their 27th straight division title having last lost the division in 2021.
Game 4: Tampa Bay overcame another shaky start and ended up obliterating the Jays 15-4 to salvage a split of the 4-game series. Ben Moses was hit hard early but after the big lead was perfect in the 5th and 6th to go to 14-3 after a 6.2 12 4 4 1 4 performance. A 6-run 4th capped by a 3-run Kevin Crater Tater (#37) broke it open while Yuji Morioka (#22) and Jose Castillo (#27) also found the seats. Nelson Bocardo kept a stranglehold on the AL batting crown with 3 doubles in 4 at-bats, driving in 3 and upping his BA to .348. It wasn't all fun and games though as our spate of injuries to infielders continued as Morioka suffered a high ankle sprain later in the game and will miss 3 weeks or essentially the rest of the regular season, joining Luis Barela, Tomas Laboy and Mario Saro on the shelf.
Team record: 103-41. Next up: An off-day then we go to Texas for 3.
Meant to post this a week ago but as we approach the season's end, here's a look at the standings and leaders:
