Listless Blue Jays Embarrassed for 2nd Night in a Row - Jays Lose 12-2

Suffice it to say, this has not been a banner last two days in Blue Jays Nation.

First, the Toronto Blue Jays (19-21) got into a literal fight with rival Texas Rangers. This, beyond giving all Jays haters a new meme to use, cost the Blue Jays their Manager for three games and their star RF for one. Three for Jesse Chavez, as well. But, the last two are just rumoured as of the opening pitch of the game.

Then, the Jays got slaughtered last night 13-2 at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, in a game where J.A Happ only pitched into the 3rd Inning before being pulled after allowing 8 ER's.

Things have to get better from here, don't they? (Spoiler: No.)

BOXSCORE for Mobile

On the mound for the Jays goes Marcus Stroman (4-0 with a 3.54 ERA) to square off against Chris Archer (2-4 with a 4.57 ERA).

Of course, a single by Evan Longoria with two outs and a double by Steve Pearce to score the first run of the game in the 1st Inning, probably not how Stroman wanted to start the game. Though, it does fall in line with the rest of this gong show of a week.

1-0 Devil Rays (that's right, I'm angry and I'm bringing it back!)

In the bottom half Jose Bautista reminded me that his suspension hasn't started yet (at this point they are all rumours, except) when he crushed his 7th Homerun of the season over the centrefield wall.

2-1 Blue Jays

Sort of all goes down hill from here...

Tampa threatened again in the 2nd after a Logan Morrison single and a Kevin Kiermaier double (yes, same sequence as before) gave the Rays runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. A nubber off the bat of Curt Casali ended in a fielder's choice and a tie ballgame.  Brandon Guyer singled through the left side to score the Rays third run. A stolen base and a 2-out triple by Brad Miller added the cherry on top of this heaping pile and the Rays left the inning with a 2-run lead.

4-2 Devil Rays

Then in the 3rd, the Rays had runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out after a Steven Souza Jr. single followed by a Corey Dickerson single. Morrison bounced into a fielder's choice scoring the Rays 5th run.

5-2 Devil Rays

More trouble in the 6th after Pearce walked to lead off the inning, a double by Dickerson moved him to 3rd where he'd score on a LoMo single. Kiermaier would cash in Dickerson with a high chopper that landed over the drawn in infield for the 7th Devil Ray run.

7-2 D-Rays

Stroman's night would come to an end in the 6th following a Longoria double and Pearce walk. Pat Venditte came on in relief and got Souza Jr. to strike out to end the inning.

Final line for Stroman: 5.2 IP, 7 Runs (all earned) on 13 Hits, 2 K's and 2 BB.

The rough night would march along in the 7th. After a single by Kiermaier, Casali grounded a ball to Josh Donaldson who booted it for an error. Then, Brandon Guyer chopped a ball to Donaldson which he'd also boot, allowing Kiermaier to score. Brad Miller then doubled in Casali and Guyer.

10-2 Rays.

The Jays offence, on the other hand, was the same old 2016 offence we've come to know and "love". Not that it mattered much in a game where they gave up 10 runs, but still Archer had them locked up for the most part after the Bautista HR in the 1st.

Speaking of, Chris Archer was done after 6 innings. His final line: 6 IP, 2 ER on 4 Hits, 7 K, 4 BB's.

Venditte worked 2.1 Innings in relief and was pretty good. Allowed 3 Hits, no runs, and struck out one (no walks). Drew Storen came into the game in the 9th in mop-up duty. He'd walk Kiermayer, and then Taylor Motter would hit his 1st Homerun in the MLB off the Jays righty.

12-2 D-Rays.

And that just about closes up the book on this one.

Jays Lose 12-2.

SUCKAGE
Stroman (-.437), and surprisingly no one else reached the number. But, Smoak (-099) gets a dishonourable mention. As does Donaldson (-.077) for the two error's, though it didn't really change the outcome.

R.A Dickey (2-4 4.31 ERA) goes to the hill tomorrow for the Jays trying to salvage a game from the series. Rays counter with Jake Odorizzi (0-2 with a 3.83 ERA). 


Source: FanGraphs