The Toronto Blue Jays are 33-25 at home this season and are solid favorites to beat the Tampa Bay Rays who are 21-32 on the road this season.
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“Since he’s come back he’s been pretty unbelievable”, Happ said.
Rays infielder Brad Miller played behind Happ when both were with Seattle last season.
The interesting part to the dilemma, which plopped in the lap of manager John Gibbons early on Wednesday, is how much the Blue Jays will actually miss their former all-star. That extending the opening inning long enough for Tulowitzki to hit a three-run homer, which was the Jays’ first multi-run homer since July 26, snapping a franchise-record streak of 17 straight solo shots.
Estrada (7-5) allowed three runs, two earned, and seven hits in five innings.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Troy Tulowitzki, right, rounds the bases past Tampa Bay Rays stating pitcher Blake Snell (4) and third baseman Evan Longoria (3) after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.
Josh Donaldson hit a fly ball in foul territory that Steven Souza, Jr. fumbled.
“Zeke [Carrera] stepped in when [Bautista] was gone the last time and did a hell of a job for us”, Gibbons said. “Obviously it was getting worse as the game was going so I knew I did something but I didn’t expect it to feel this bad when I woke up”.
“It’s extremely frustrating – especially after an offseason that a lot of hard work went into getting ready and hopefully avoiding these type of situations”, Bautista said to Sportnet’s Arden Zwelling. That would end Snell’s night as Dylan Floro came in to relieve him.
Toronto added two runs in the second. “It wasn’t for lack of stuff, he had the stuff going”.
Right before game time, the Toronto front office made a decision to place Jose Bautista on the 15-day disabled list with a grade one knee sprain (what does one get a grade one knee sprain for back-to school?).
The Blue Jays tacked on two more in the bottom of the frame on a Devon Travis RBI single and a two-out bases-loaded walk by Tulowitzki, and it was basically cruise control from that point on.
Rays: SS Matt Duffy (left Achilles) went 0 for 4 in a rehab game at Triple-A Durham.
The Toronto Blue Jays will be without one of their best power hitters for at least 15 days.
Toronto recalled outfielder Junior Lake from Triple-A Buffalo.
MISCELLANY: Fox has picked up Friday’s Rays-Yankees Alex Rodriguez farewell game for national television, so there will be no broadcast on Fox Sports Sun. Chris Archer pitches for the Rays against C.C. Sabathia.
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Happ became the third Jays starter to bring his ERA under 3.00, joining Aaron Sanchez (2.85 and first in the American League before Wednesday) and Marco Estrada (2.95 and fourth in the AL). LHP Francisco Liriano (6-11, 5.34) makes his second start for Toronto.
