Series 39: Rays @ Blue Jays (Monm, Tues., Wed., Thurs. Aug. 14 to 17, 2017)

[hockeyfan1]

                                                                        @

Place:      Rogers Centre    Toronto,  ON


Mon. Aug.14
Starting Pitchers:    Nick Tepesch  RH (Jays)  0-2  9.00  ERA
                              Jake Odorizzi  RH (Rays)  6-5  4.38  ERA
Time:                      7PM
TV/Radio:                Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Tues. Aug. 15
Starting Pitchers:    Marco Estrada  RH (Jays)  5-7  4.85  ERA
                              Blake Snell      LH (Rays)  0-6  4.69  ERA
Time:                      7PM
TV/Radio:                Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Wed. Aug. 16
Starting Pitchers:    Marcus Stroman RH (Jays)  10-6 3.00  ERA
                              Jacob Faria        RH (Rays)  5-3  3.19  ERA
Time:                      7PM
TV/Radio:                Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Thurs. Aug. 17
Starting Pitchers:    Chris Rowley      RH (Jays)    1-0  1.69  ERA
                              Chris Archer      RH (Rays)    8-7  3.84  ERA
Time:                      7PM
TV/Radio:                Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Source:  MLB.com,  theStar.com

 

[hockeyfan1]

Rays 1  Blue Jays 2

Nust as he had done in the Blue Jays win on Sunday afternoon over the Pittsburgh Pirates, The Bringer of Rain, Josh Donaldson smashed a two-run homer in the first inning and, it was all the scoring Toronto would need to win over the Rays.

Donaldson now has eight homers in sixteen games and his clutch performances are exactly what is expected of the former MVP.

Add in Jays starter Nick Tepesch's decent pitching, he lasted a little over six innings allowing one run on four hits, steady as he was for the win.
Aaron Loup pitched some hitless relief and Roberto Osuna eventually closed out with save #30.

The win brings the Jays to 3.5 GB of the WC spot.

Game recap:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/08/14/donaldson-blast-all-jays-need-to-edge-rays.html

 

[hockeyfan1]

Rays 2  Blue Jays 3

A strong pitching performance by Jays starter Marcus Stroman along with stellar relief from Dominic Leone, (who had earlier been reinstated into the lineup from the Bereavement list), plus Osuna's save #31, held back the Tampa Bay Rays and earned the victory for Toronto.

Stroman got the win in allowing the two runs in a little over six innings but otherwise was Mr. Shutdown for most of the game.  Leone and Loup were instrumental in continuing the pitching mastery.

Offensive contributions came from Steve Pearce (solo homer), Donaldson, Bautista and Goins.  Speaking of Ryan Goins, upon sliding into second base, he was accidentally "stepped" on his arm.  No major damage found only an abrasion/bruise though Goins left the game at that point.

"It's all good, just a bruise. I'm day to day," said Goins, who didn't have a bandage on the sizeable abrasion on his arm post-game.

Game recap:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-rays-recap-1.4250322


In comparing Stroman performance (in Wednesday's victory)  to Marco Estrada's in Tuesday's 5-4 loss, the difference was nearly like night and day.  Whereas Stroman was steady, consistent, and focused, Estrada's performance took a step backward as he allowed six runs in four innings of work.  What is disturbing about his performance is the fact that his previous three starts he seemed to have regained his sense of self, the Marco Estrada that everyone has come to expect -- in his last three outings, Estrada has had a 1.81 ERA name delimited opponent's slugging average to a measly. 184.  Then, this game Tuesday night and all goes...splat!  Go figure.

Of Marco Estrada and the rumours mills...
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/baseball/blue-jays-estrada-roughed-up-by-rays-rumour-mill/article35996956/

 

[hockeyfan1]

Rays 3  Blue Jays 5

The Bringer of Rain and the Big Smoak were too much to handle for the Rays as the Blue Jays took the series from Tampa Bay 3 out of 4.

Donaldson homered in each inning,  the first and the third, while Smoak blasted a two-run shot in the eighth that proved to be the go-ahead runs for the Jays.

Jays starter Chris Rowley pitched five innings and was relieved by a combination of Loup, Barnes, Mayza, and Leone (the winner).  Osuna got the save.

Back to J.D.  That's Josh Donaldson and he's had a scorching August batting .400 and homering nine times in seventeen games.  He's also had 21 RBIs in the process.  Looks like a coming of age for Donaldson, considering that his first half of the season was literally in limbo -- on the DL.  Even the last two months haven't shown much light on his season (Donaldson had missed the entire training camp).  But now, August, and J.D.'s bats are comin' alive!

Nothing could be more uplifting for the Blue Jays who remain 3.0 GB for the WC spot.

Blue Jay fans are keeping their fingers crossed. 

Game recap:
http://www.tsn.ca/donaldson-smoak-power-blue-jays-past-rays-1.833007