Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Jays had multiple opportunities to break this game open at various times and simply couldn’t execute. The Jays got 4 hits and 8 walks and managed just a single run. Meanwhile, the Rays scored all three runs via the long ball. To be fair, Drew Rasmussen wasn’t particularly dominating, managing just three Ks but scattered four hits and two walks to keep the Jays off the board. The Rays bullpen gave up 6 walks over three innings, but kept the Jays hitless to limit the damage.
The Jays had a chance to put some runs on the board in the 3rd, when Clase opened the inning with a double. Lukes singled to shallow left, but Clase held up at third and Lukes was tagged out going for second. In the bottom of the inning, Caminaro worked a one out walk and Brandow Lowe hit a two-run shot to right centre. Then in the bottom of the 4th, Curtis Mead hammered a cutter that caught too much of the plate over the left field wall to make it 3-0. The Jays had another chance in the 5th when Clement singled and Clase walked to put men on first and second with no one out. Unfortunately, Lukes struck out and Bichette hammered the first pitch he saw right into a double play.
Lauer was lifted after getting the first out in the 5th for Braydon Fisher. Fisher’s slider was particularly nasty, as he struck out four of the five batters he faced over the next 1.2 innings. Rasmussen was lifted for Mason Montgomery to start the 7th. Montgomery promptly walked Kirk, Barger, and Clement to load the bases and left without recording an out. Manuel Rodriguez relieved him and got Clase to hit a double-play ball to second which scored Kirk before Lukes flew out to end the inning. With base loaded and no one out, the Jays got a run but lost an opportunity for a big inning.
Chad Green came in for the 8th, getting the first two before a swinging bunt put Caminaro on first. However, Caminaro made an ill-advised steal attempt and was gunned down easily by Kirk. In the bottom of the inning, the Jays got two on with Guerrero and Springer walks, but Kirk ground out to end the threat. Fairbanks came out to close it out for the top of the 9th. He got the first two and then walked Santander, pinch-hitting for Clase on four pitches. Lukes came up as the tying run but went down swinging.
Jay of the Day: Ernie Clement gets the dubious honour with a hit and a walk (.102)
The Other Award: Bo Bichette’s rally killing 0-4 day (-.184)
The Jays will try and even the series tomorrow at 7:05pm as Jose Berrios (4.19 ERA) faces Shane Baz (5.33 ERA)