The reigning American League MVP is out of the lineup for a third consecutive game with a hip injury, and now there’s some worry that he could be dealing with something more serious.
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Cobb allowed nine hits and four runs (three earned) in a no-decision start against the New York Yankees Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
“I’ve got to believe we’ve hit rock bottom”, manager John Gibbons said after another crooked defeat, kayoed 8-1 by AL East last-place Tampa Bay, two-hit – matching their nadir offensive point of the season – largely on the efforts of a moundsman making his third start since coming off Tommy John surgery, dropping their fourth straight series.
“The amount if progress I’ve made in the last two starts has been tremendous”, Cobb said. “I’m feeling good when I go to the cage, everything feels in rhythm, and that’s what I carry into the game”.
But they changed the story line and the story in beating the Jays for the 11th time in 18 games.
The once-mighty Jays offence has done a 180, morphing into a bottom-three attack over the past couple of weeks, although Estrada said bad luck has been at play too, since numerous lineups’ outs have been from good contact. “I’m optimistic that this will turn and turn in a hurry”.
Blue Jays: Gibbons said Donaldson jammed his hip when he stepped on first base in Sunday’s loss to Boston.
Estrada, who was already up to 101 pitches at this point, allowed four of the runs off four hits over 5.1 innings of work while walking three and striking out seven to see his record fall to 8-9.
“It’s tough (to sit out) but we still control our own destiny at the end of the day”, Donaldson said. “It’s kind of been a snowball effect”. “We need to start winning games here”. We have to find a way to do it.
“Nothing’s really been working out lately. We’ve got to start pitching better, Obviously, I’ve got to start pitching better”.
The only thing that excited the home fans through the first five-and-a-half innings was the announcement that the Jays had surpassed three million in attendance this season. Devon Travis scored on the play after leading off with a double and advancing to third on a sacrifice by Michael Saunders.
In fact, it was Souza Jr.’s home run that keyed the bullpen implosion the Rays took advantage of tonight.
Estrada struck out his first five batters and six of his first nine.
The Rays had a promising start to the third when Souza walked and took second on a single by Ramirez. Logan Forsythe led off with a single, the first baserunner of the game for Tampa Bay.
“I didn’t really think it was an issue”, Martin said of the Stroman’s four free passes. “It just got to where I never felt comfortable with it”. “Maybe it caught too much of the plate, but it was down”.
Estrada maintained that despite the Blue Jays’ current state, no one in the clubhouse has given up – not yet, anyway.
The Rays seized a 6-1 lead in the sixth.
By the time Tampa added two more runs in the top of the ninth, those in the stands who hadn’t yet piled out didn’t even bother booing. A single later scored another.
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Unfortunately the problems for the former AL East leaders have extended beyond their struggles with the Rays, with the Jays having lost 9 of their last 12 since the calendar turned to September.
