Another Bullpen Loss as the Blue Jays Fall to the Rays

With it all tied up in the ninth, the Blue Jays had a chance to gain the lead with Kevin Pillar on third and Dominguez pinch-hitting for Josh Thole.  Unable to cash in the runner the Blue Jay’s bullpen gave the game away in the bottom of the inning and the Jays lost another heartbreakingly close game.

J.A. Happ got a no-decision after allowing three earned runs, two of which were solo home runs.  He allowed six hits, three walks and a hit batter over 6.2 innings.  Happ’s pitches were working well for him tonight.  He got ahead in the count early throwing strikes and recorded seven strikeouts. Despite the home runs, he had an efficient, well-pitched outing.

Chris Archer entered the game with a 5.47 ERA  (1-4)  and set a new Tampa Bay Rays franchise record for most strikeouts in the month of April  with 43.  Archer had trouble finding the strike zone and walked four batters.  He ended up striking out four batters as well in his six innings of work and allowed only one hit.

Archer wasn’t the only Ray to give up a walk.  In total, Tampa Bay gave up a startling six walks in the game.  Josh Donaldson walked twice and Michael Saunders, Ryan Goins and Josh Thole also drew walks.

Kevin Pillar had a 2 for 3 game with a walk. He got his first home run of the season off of Rays’ relief pitcher Enny Romero in the 7th, which was the first hit Romero has given up to a right-handed batter all year.  Then with the score tied in the ninth inning Pillar doubled off of Erasmo Ramirez (1.40 ERA) who entered the game in the seventh.

Bautista’s bat came alive in the third as he got a two run home run to left field after fouling the ball off of his foot.

Jesse Chavez (2.25) entered the game in relief of Happ in the seventh and stranded a base runner.  He remained in the game into the eighth and retired all four batters he faced. Brett Cecil entered the game in the ninth and allowed an infield single, a double and a base hit to break the tie in the Rays’ favour.

Logan Forsythe remains a thorn in the Blue Jay’s side getting three hits in three at-bats, one of which was a solo homerun.  Kevin Kiermaier also had a good game for the Rays with a hit and a walk.

Next up for the Jays is a 1:10 start against Tampa on Sunday May 1st.  The Jays will be looking to win the rubber match game as Marcus Stroman(4.37 ERA) is matched up against Jake Odorizzi (3.58 ERA).