Series 8: Rays @ Blue Jays (Fri. Sat. Sun. April 28 to 30, 2017)

[hockeyfan1]

                                                          @

Place:    Rogers Centre  Toronto, ON



Fri. April 28
Starting Pitchers:                Marcus Stroman  RH (Jays)  2-2  3.10 ERA
                                          Blake  Snell        LH  (Rays) 0-2  3.38 ERA
Time:                                  7PM
TV/Radio:                            SN,  The FAN 590



Sat. April 29           
Starting Pitchers:                Francisco Liriano  LH  (Jays)  1-2  4.58 ERA
                                          Matt Andriese      RH  (Rays)  1-0  3.86 ERA
Time:                                  1PM
TV/Radio:                            SN, The FAN 590



Sun. April 30
Starting Pitchers:                Marco Estrada      RH (Jays)  0-1  2.70  ERA
                                          Chris Archer        RH (Rays)  2-1  3.70  ERA
Time:                                  1PM
Tv/Radio:                            SN,  The FAN 590



Source:  theStar.com,  FOXSports

 

[hockeyfan1]

Tampa Bay 7  Blue Jays 4

Recap of Friday's game:

Jays starter Marcus Stroman looked poised to earn the victory after completing the eighth inning, but not before having served another run to the Rays with the Jays still retaining tbe lead.  Stroman pitched an effectively steady game up to tbat point.

In comes the bullpen, with Jason Grilli and Dominic Leone both giving up runs -- homers to say the least -- enroute to yet another loss of a game. Make that a winnable game which was lost through yet another bullpen collapse.

Such has become the norm for the Blue Jays this season and it has been nothing short of frustrating.  When the offence opens up,  the starter is steady, the bullpen can't seem to save the day.  Or, the team has offensive struggles and can't quite put the runs on the scoreboard though the starter pitches  decently, which amounts to another wasted effort.  Or.....countless games,  too many blown winnable ones.

?It?s just frustrating,? Stroman said. ?We kill ourselves to be at our best when we?re out there, so when things don?t go our way it?s tough. We?re doing everything in our power to turn this around.?

Game story:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/04/28/bullpen-meltdown-buries-blue-jays-vs-rays.html

 

[hockeyfan1]

Rays 1  Blue Jays  4

W-i-n!  It spelled relief for the beleaguered Blue Jays.  No wasted pitching effort, no stranding a ton of baserunners, no bullpen collapse.  A win and a solid one at that.

Jays' starting pitcher Francisco Liriano had good control lasting into the fifth inning before being relieved by Biagini & Smith respectively, who kept the Rays at bay with strong, steadfast relief work.

Robert Osuna came in to get the final outs and the save.  Osuna incorporated his four-seam fastball into his routine and easily shut down the Rays in the final two innings.  It was this fastball that had given Osuna much success last season.

Justin Smoak paced the Jays with a two-run homer that paved the way for the Jays to initiate an early lead.  It may surprise some to know that Smoak is second on the team behind Kendrys Morales in hits & rbis.

At least the Jays had a smooth game and the faithful at Rogers Centre went home happy & content.

Game story:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-rays-game-recap-1.4092002

 

[hockeyfan1]

Rays 1  Blue Jays 3

In this afternoon's rubber match, the Jays had a chance to win this weekend series over the Rays.  Win it they did, but the victory was tinged with the spectre of starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez leaving the game early due to his recurring finger injury.

Sanchez had just come off the DL and had been practice pitching  to get his game back in gear.  He was given the assignment to start today's game but it didn't turn out as hoped.  Very frustrating situation.

Ryan Tepera came in to relieve Sanchez and was solid tbroughout.  Osuna got the save.  Thanks to Bautista & Martin, the Jays rallied in the eighth to break the deadlock and surge ahead on the scoreboard. 

All in all, well-played and well-done.


http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-use-three-run-eighth-defeat-rays-first-series-win/