The Toronto Blue Jays are not having fun in Florida, as the club dropped another game to the Rays by a score of 3 to 1, and will head into tomorrow’s game looking to avoid a sweep by their AL East rival.
Jose Berrios struggled out of the gate, allowing a walk and a double to put runners in scoring position with just one out on the board. Junior Caminero then sent a hanging slurve over the wall to left centre, a three-run shot that proved to be the difference maker on the day.
Berrios settled in after that, not allowing another hit until the bottom of the fifth inning – a single to Chandler Simpson. He would last six innings and allow just three hits, one walk, and three runs while striking out three. He generated eight swing and misses on the day and posted a 61.1% strike rate, but did allow some hard contact, albeit without those all resulting in hits for the Rays. Mason Fluharty and recently recalled right-hander Paxton Schultz followed and held the Rays at bay, not allowing a hit through the final two frames.
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The Blue Jays’ bats were pretty stagnant against the Rays’ arms, with Shane Baz allowing just one run through 5 2/3 innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off the top of the sixth with a solo shot over the left centre field wall, smacking a middle-middle changeup 423 feet into the night. The Jays threatened on numerous occasions, including a bases-loaded situation in the top of the second with two outs, but Nathan Lukes grounded out to third base, and the play was over. Toronto also threatened in the top of the ninth with runners on first and second with two outs, but Myles Straw would fly out to centre field to end the game.
The Jays walked five times and struck out only four, but were 1 for 5 with RISP and left eight batters on the base paths today. Anthony Santander had a strong day at the plate, going 2 for 2 with two walks, while Ernie Clement, Alejandro Kirk, and Straw also chipped in with their own singles (alongside Guerrero’s knock). Both Bichette and Lukes grounded into double plays as well.
Overall, Berrios allowed just the three runs and settled in nicely the rest of the way, but the offence wasn’t able to pick up their pitching staff, dropping another close game. They threatened on a few occasions but could not find a way to plate the runners to pad their score.
The Blue Jays fall back under .500 and will head into tomorrow’s game looking to avoid a sweep with their 25-26 record, which now sits tied with the Rays. Toronto is slated to send Chris Bassitt to the mound while the Rays are countering with Ryan Pepiot, whom the Jays faced on May 14th. He was tagged with the loss, as the Jays generated six hits and three runs through six innings.