Where has all the offense gone? Jays lose to Rays.

Rays 3 Blue Jays 1

It was nice to see all the players from the glory years. Some of them look like they could still play. I’d bet on Devon White in a foot race with Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak.

We got a good start from Sam Gaviglio. I was starting to think it was time to take him out of the rotation, but he looked good today. 5.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned (a rare Kevin Pillar error cost us the Rays second run), no walks and 7 strikeouts. He wasn’t very economical with his pitches, throwing 99 in the 5.1, but that’s a minor complaint. If same could pitch like this every time, we’d be thrilled.

The pen did a good job too:

• Jaime Garcia got the last 2 outs in the 6th, with a strikeout.
• Jake Petricka pitched the 7th, giving out a hit and a walk but getting out of the inning.
• Tyler Clippard pitched the 8th. He gave up a 1-out double, but stranded him there.
• Ryan Tepera gave up a run in the 9th. After a leadoff single, for Willy Adams and a ground out to move him to second, Jesus Sucre hit a popup to center, but Pillar’s first step was back and it fell just in front of him. Then he rainbowed a throw to the plate, way too late to get the runner, but Martin threw back to second and got Sucre.

Once again the offense had a bad day. Aledmys Diaz had a solo homer in the 5th and that was it for scoring.

We had chances. We loaded the bases, with 1-out in the 2nd inning. Teoscar Hernandez led off with a double, Kendrys Morales walked and, an out later, Russell Martin was hit by pitch. But Diaz twice chased ball 4, and ended up popping out. And Pillar hit a soft ground out to end the threat.

In the 7th, Martin started us off with a single. But Diaz lined out and Pillar swung over a pitch on a hit and run, making Martin an easy out at second. Pillar is the last batter with whom I’d put on a hit and run, I don’t trust him to make contact. Pillar would go on to walk, which reminds me I have to get the oil changed in my car, but then was picked off at first.

We only had 5 hits. The Rays used a reliever as starter and then used 6 more pitchers on the day, and we couldn’t hit any of them.

It was a bad day for our defense. Pillar had a very tough time. Travis and Diaz both went after an easy ground ball, and then both backed off, turning it into a single.

Yangervis Solarte left the game, mid-at bat, after making an awkward swing. At the time I thought it looked like an oblique injury, and it sounds like that’s what it was. How bad and how long he’ll be out is an open question at the moment. Lourdes Gurriel should be about ready to return from the DL, I’m hoping, to fill Solarte’s roster spot.

It’s too bad we don’t have a stud third base prospect tearing it up in Triple A.

Jays of the Day? I’m going to give one to Gaviglio, even though he didn’t have the number.

Suckage: Grichuk (-.141, 0 for 4, 3 k), Pillar (-.141, 0 for 2, walk, missed hit and run swing, pick off and that’s not counting the error in center, or the misplayed fly ball, both costing us a run) and Urena (-.117, coming into the game when Solarte was hurt).

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