Jays lose in the MLB debut of Reid-Foley and Jansen

Blue Jays 1 Royals 3

Sean Reid-Foley’s first major league start wasn’t a rousing success, but he wasn’t terrible. 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 earned, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. He gave up a 2-run homer. And, in the 4th inning, he loaded the bases, on a single, walk and single, with no outs. When he handed out another walk, it looked like it was going to be a big inning, but he got Adalberto (don’t call me Raul) Mondesi to pop out and got a double play ball from Alcides Escobar.

He seemed to miss with a number of his fastballs (maybe nerves, maybe overthrowing?), but then he’d come back and paint the corners. Pitch count got high, he left after 97 pitches, at 5 innings, but there were some hopeful signs.

The other rookie, playing his first game, Danny Jansen, looked pretty good behind the plate. He threw out the one base runner who tried to steal against him (looked to be a delayed steal), on a very nice throw to second. And he singled, line drive to left field, in his first MLB at bat (unfortunately, Russell Martin was thrown out at the plate). He’d finish 2 for 3, with a strikeout and an infield single. All-in-all, a good night for Danny.

There wasn’t much more for bright spots. Devon Travis crushed a homer deep down the left field line, in the first inning. But we’d only get 4 more hits on the night. Jansen’s 2 and 1 each for Curtis Granderson and, birthday boy, Randal Grichuk.

We had a shot at some runs in the 8th inning. With 2 outs, Jansen had his infield single and Granderson walked (after Aledmys was robbed on an obvious ball four, but called strike 1), but Travis flied out to deep center field to end the threat.

And, in the 9th, Justin Smoak took a lead off walk, but Grichuk struck out and Kendrs hits into a double play to end the game.

A ton of bad swings today. We seem to be in an offensive slump, after a couple of good series against the Mariners and the Red Sox, we weren’t able to hit the Rays at all, and tonight our bats were maddeningly bad.

On the plus side, Luis Santos pitched 2 scoreless innings (helped out by a terrific double play, started by Diaz diving and then flipping the ball with his glove hand to second).

Thomas Pannone (in my life, whenever I hear the name Thomas, I know I’m in trouble, but I digress), pitched a scoreless 8th, with a walk.

Also of note, Russell Martin looked very good defensively, playing third base. He made a couple of very nice plays. He looks much better than Solarte did at the position.

Jays of the Day: Let’s give one to Jansen, and an honorable mention to Reid-Foley and Santos.

Suckage: Morales (-.179, much of it on the game ending double play) and Grichuk (-.112).

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