Quick morning recap: Blue Jays edge Rays 3-2

It would appear a snafu resulted in no recap going up after the game last night, let's belatedly run through one of those rare times when the Blue Jays pulled out a tight game with Tampa Bay.

Marcus Stroman was really sharp in the early going, in particular featuring a really sharp breaking ball and retired the side the first time though with the only batter reaching on an infield single.

The second time through wasn't quite as smooth, as with two out in the 3rd inning, Brad Miller lined a single followed by Lucas Duda lining a double. Fortunately, it was hit too hard to score the runner even with two out, and Stroman got Evan Longoria to fly out. He gave up another two out double in the 4th got nonce again escaped.

Meanwhile, the bats staked him to a lead. In the 3rd, Jose Bautista doubled home Raffy Lopez who had walked in front of him. Steve Pearce added a solo shot in the 4th to make it 2-0, albeit not for long as Stroman gave up a leadogg off double in the 5th and this time it came back to bite him, back to back grounders first advancing and then scoring Mallex Smith.

Things settled into a holding pattern for a while, Kendrys Morales striking out with two on and two out for the second time, and then Stroman putting up another zero in the 6th. The Jays added a very important insurance run, as Steve Pearce doubled leading off the inning and RBI Goins drove him in with a single.

The 7th very nearly came off the rails. Stroman struck out the first batter, but then loaded the bases on a pair of walks sandwiched around the single. Aaron Loup was summoned to face Steven Souza, but walked him to force in a run and advance the tying run to third with less than two out. Bye bye.

Fortunately, Dominic Leone was up to the task of holding the line. He struck out Longoria, and then got Logan Morrison to popout. The Jays failed to add any insurance runs, but Ryan Tepera pitched an easy and clean 8th inning to turn the ball over Roberto Osuna in the 9th. He didn't exactly slam the door shut, as the first batter reached and he almost gave up another single up the middle, but for Darwin Barney potentially saving the game:

Darwin Barney, you are a GAME-SAVER. #Smooth pic.twitter.com/Xv2vDunWzW

— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 17, 2017

Osuna got the job done after that, including a strikeout to end the game on which Souza seemed befuddled that the umpire called a couple of breaking balls almost right the middle strikes.

Also of note was Ryan Goins exiting the game after his hand was spiked diving into second base. Hopefully nothing serious, since who else is going to drive in runners? Oh, and Donaldson continued to mash the ball. No home runs, but a couple hard hits.

Jays of the Day: Leone (+0.281 WPA); Osuna (+0.166); Pearce (+0.134); Tepera (+0.123); and Stroman (+0.095). Tipof the hat to Donaldson (+0.042, 2/3)

Suckage: Loup (-0.144); Morales (-0.115, 0/4, 2K)

Later this afternoon at 4L05 EDT, the Jays will look to take the series, complete a 7-3 homestand and essentially draw even with Tampa in the standings (technically percentage points behind). It will be a showdown of Chrises, Archer vs. Rowley...one of them making his second MLB start, the other one of the top pitchers in the AL.