Blue Jays lose 6-1, Rays get even with Marco Estrada

Toronto tied up the season series against Tampa Bay last night 4-4. It was a different story today back at Tropicana Field. The Rays got their revenge against the Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays were looking for their second straight win against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Marco Estrada was on the mound for his seventh start of the season. It was a less than impressive start for Estrada. He threw 97 pitches in six innings, allowed five earned runs off five hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. It was the first time in his last five starts that he allowed more than two runs.

Jake Odorizzi was making his second start since returning from the DL earlier this week. Odorizzi had a better performance. He pitched seven innings, allowed one earned run off three hits, and six strikeouts.

Toronto continued the momentum from last night’s comeback victory.

Ezequiel Carerra hit his second home run of the season over the right field wall on a full count. The Blue Jays were up 1-0 after the first inning.

Estrada was a strike away from striking out the side until Evan Longoria singled up the middle infield. Tampa Bay would take the lead in the bottom of the third as Logan Morrison connected to the right field wall for a two-out, two-run homer on a 1-1 count. It was Morrison’s team-leading seventh home run of the season. The Blue Jays trailed the Rays 2-1.

More from Jays Journal

• 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

The Rays got to Estrada once again. In the bottom of the sixth, Morrison would score Longoria once again on a RBI double. Former Blue Jay Colby Rasmus added to the lead with a two-run homer run, his first of the season. The Blue Jays fell behind the Rays 5-1.

The Blue Jays were looking to make up some ground. Unfortunately, the bats were absolutely cold after Carrera’s home run. Kendrys Morales was the only batter who stepped up. He went two-for-three today and has gone five-for-seven since last night’s game.

J.P. Howell made his sixth relief appearance of the season in the bottom of the seventh. Howell hasn’t pitched since last Sunday’s victory at the Rogers Centre.

Erasmo Ramirez made his first relief since going on the maternity leave list in the top of the eighth. Jason Grilli followed Howell when he came into the game in the bottom of the eighth.

Grilli continued to struggle on the mound. He threw 39 pitches, the most since August 2011 as he allowed an unearned run to Rasmus.

Jose Alvarado closed out the game in the top of the ninth. The Rays got their redemption in a 6-1 victory against the Blue Jays.

Odorizzi (2-1 2.88 ERA) picked up the win and Estrada (1-2 3.14 ERA) picked up the loss.

Next: Blue Jays' Morales producing in the clutch

The Blue Jays (10-20) will look to take the series against the Rays (16-16) before heading home. Joe Biagini (0-1 3.38 ERA) will make his first career major league start against Alex Cobb (2-2 3.86 ERA). The series finale gets underway tomorrow at 1:10 p.m. ET back at Tropicana Field.