Blue Jays Game Recap: Encarnacion, Buehrle Roll On!

Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Here is the Blue Jays Game Recap vs the Tamp Bay Rays for May 27, 2014.

Toronto Blue Jays– 9   vs   Tamp Bay Rays– 6
W: Mark Buehrle (9-1)   L: Alex Cobb (1-2)   SV: Casey Janssen (8)

Before we get going, I HAVE to share the following. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson threw out the first pitch at the New York Mets game. Just watch. Words cannot describe it. David Zinski has words for it at FanSided.com.

All was quiet in the first 3 innings. Then the Rays got back to back singles in the 4th by Evan Longoria and Logan Forsythe. After Desmond Jennings struck out, Sean Rodriguez blooped a double over 1B to drive in the first run of the game.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Wil Myers grounded to SS and Sean Rodriguez got himself in a run down to ensure the 2nd run of the game came in. The Rays took a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 4th, the Blue Jays answered back. Adam Lind singled, Edwin Encarnacion walked and Brett Lawrie came through with 2 outs. He shot a single into RF to bring in Lind. Dioner Navarro brought in the 2nd run of the frame with a single. The game was tied at 2.

In the 5th, the Blue Jays took the lead. Jose Reyes led off the inning with a bit of a scary moment. He hit a ball directly back at Alex Cobb. He would be fine. Sort of. The Blue Jays went 3 for 4 for the rest of that inning. After Reyes went to 2nd on Melky Cabrera’s fielder’s choice, Jose Bautista brought him in with a single up the middle. That brought the score to 3-2. Then Adam Lind stepped up and scraped one over the left center field wall for a 2-run shot, his 3rd. HERE IT IS.

Then Edwin Encarnacion did him one better. He went to the 4th deck with a no doubter. It went just under Carlos Delgado’s name on the Level of Excellence! CHECK IT OUT. Is there anyone hotter than Encarnacion this month? I don’t think so. That was his 14th homerun in MAY. 14. In May. That gave the Blue Jays, and Mark Buehrle a 6-2 lead. They are going to have to invent a new term for how hot Encarnacion is right now.

Alex Cobb looked good early. He had nasty movement on his fastball. It was almost like the hit off the rear end shook him. His final line: 5.0 IP, 9H, 6ER, 1BB, 7K, 2HR

Live Feed

Betsided

In the 6th inning, Logan Forsythe led off the inning with a grounder to Reyes. His throw pulled Lind off 1st base. Reyes was given an error on the play. Desmond Jennings followed that with a double to LF. Sean Rodriguez was the next batter and he lifted a sac fly to LF to bring in a run. That brought the score to 6-3.

In the bottom of the 6th, Reyes walked with 2 outs. He stole 2nd. He went for third and Cabrera “Melked” a single up the middle to send Reyes right on home. That brought the score to 7-3. The Rays decided to intentionally walk Joseph Bats to pitch to Lind. It didn’t work out. Lind hit a comebacker that went off the pitcher, Cesar Ramos’, glove. It loaded the bases. The Rays brought in a new pitcher, Brad Boxberger  to face Encarnacion. It must have been scary because Boxberger became BALKSberger. He committed a balk to bring home the Jays’ 8th run.

After James Loney doubled and scored in the 7th, Mark Buehrle’s night was done. He left in line to win his league leading 9th game! His final line: 6.2IP, 8H, 4R, 3ER, 1BB, 3K. It was not pretty, but it worked. Buehrle was helped out by 3 double plays turned behind him. On his way off the field, he made sure to give a nod to his defense. Classy.

J-Frank (Juan Francisco) added the Blue Jays’ 9th run in the bottom of the 7th. HERE IT IS. It was his 9th of the year. He keeps displaying the power that forces John Gibbons to find ways to put him in the lineup. J-Frank’s blast was the Blue Jays 76th HR of the season. They have 44 in May alone.

In the top of the 8th, Steve Delabar gave up a walk to Desmond Jennings. Sean Rodriguez hit a triple off the RCF wall to score Jennings. Then Wil Myers chipped in a sac fly RBI to help out the Rays (and my fantasy team). It brought the score to 9-6. Delabar went one inning giving up 2 hits, 2 earned runs and a walk. Brett Cecil came on and gave up a single to Loney and that was all.

Casey Janssen came in to wrap up the Blue Jays 8th win in a row. Coincidentally, it was his 8th save of the season. He gave up a leadoff bloop single to Matt Joyce. That was all. What a calming force for this team. It’s like his return let out a collective exhale.

The Blue Jays will take on the Rays tomorrow night to look for the sweep. It would be their 3rd series sweep in a row! Liam Hendriks (1-0, 1.59) will take on Chris Archer (3-2, 4.11).