“You want to win the ball game, you want to work deep”.
Advertisement
Jason Grilli (6-5) got the win and Jose Bautista hit a two-run shot for the Blue Jays (79-64), who have had a rough go of things this month. “It just got to where I never felt comfortable with it”.
“I got to talk to him at the end and we’re fine”. Before it was even caught I started having those feelings of satisfaction. “You don’t see a lot of guys run the ship back-to-back”. They need him back in the lineup, although it would certainly be at less than 100 per cent. Kiermaier hit a two run home run driving in Forsythe who had singled. Toronto has won just three of their last 10 games overall.
Last-place Tampa Bay now has a franchise-record 200 homers, eclipsing the previous mark of 199 in 2009.
Reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson was still awaiting results from an MRI he had on his injured right hip when he first spoke to reporters about it on Wednesday. “We were a bit concerned heading into the game, he’s had issues with walks in the past. but he was on from the get-go”.
In that frame, Tampa got its first three hits of the game and erased Toronto’s 1-0 advantage on a two-run homer from centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
“He was dominating, he really was”, manager John Gibbons said.
Stroman allowed three runs and four hits in six innings.
Smyly (7-11) came in 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA at Rogers Centre in five appearances, including three starts.
“I didn’t think it was going to go out, but then for a second I thought it was going to be foul too, so it worked out pretty well”, Carrera said through a translator.
“When he came over here, I was like “I know you remember that home run off me” Smyly said.
The right-hander struck out the Rays’ first five batters of the game, becoming the first Blue Jays pitcher to achieve the feat. He allowed two runs and five hits.
Logan Forysthe singled and Keiermaier followed with a first-pitch home run.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Corey Dickerson, left, congratulates teammate Alexei Ramirez on his three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during fifth inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016.
The Blue Jays opened their September schedule by losing three consecutive series for the first time this season, slipping down the AL East standings in the process.
NOTES: The Blue Jays announced during the game that they had hired former Red Sox executive Ben Cherington as their new vice president of baseball operations.
The all-star third baseman said it’s been tough to sit out while the team is scuffling.
Atkins added that the team will know more about the extent of Donaldson’s injury – and whether he will miss more games – after an MRI scheduled later Wednesday.
The Blue Jays began Wednesday’s game promisingly, using small ball to manufacture their first-inning run against Cobb.
Advertisement
In Monday’s game, the Blue Jays eked out a 3-2 victory. RHP Daniel Wrigt (0-2, 7.50) starts for Los Angeles.
