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Spring training is too long, and when your team is losing, it ain't much fun either. The Blue Jays, falling to a 6-13 record, lose to the Rays by a final score of 3-2 despite a half-baked ninth inning rally.
Scoring began in the fourth, when Jake Bauers homered off of Mat Latos to make the score 2-0 for the Rays. Next, in the fifth, Dayron Varona doubled to bring Patrick Leonard home, coming off of Jason Grilli. In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Jays struck for one run, with the speedy Roemon Fields, who initially got on base via a throwing error, scoring on a Mike Ohlman groundout. Lastly, in the eighth, the Blue Jays came within one run of the Rays lead, but their rally fell short and the game ended with the final score of 3-2.
Mat Latos, Toronto's starter, began the game well, pitching perfect first and second innings. After a lead off walk in the third, Latos escaped the inning with a double play, but he faced trouble in the fourth. A leadoff walk to Nick Franklin, followed by a steal and passed ball, placed Franklin at third, and Latos subsequently allowed a home run to Jake Bauers before striking out the next batter to end his game.
It looks increasingly like Latos will not make the major league roster. Excluding his outing against the Yankees on March 3rd, Latos has allowed at least one walk and home run in his three other spring appearances.
Latos was followed Danny Barnes, who got one out before being replaced by Jason Grilli, who allowed a home run. Joe Smith, Jeff Beliveau, Chad Girodo and Leonel Campos pitched the rest of the game, keeping the Rays from scoring again. Combined, they allowed one hit, one walk and struck out five.
Troy Tulowitzki, who went 0-11 in his first at bats of spring, has now gone 6-7 with four hits and two walks, including one hit in two plate appearances today. The original lineup for the game included Melvin Upton Jr. and Ezequiel Carrera, but, with a sore back and pinky finger, respectively, the pair were replaced by Darrell Ceciliani and Jon Berti.