Rays 1 Jays 2 (11 innings)
Brayden Fisher was amazing in extra innings. two innings, one infield single, and four strikeouts.
Trey Yesavage was everything we were promised he would be. He gave up a run in the first, on a lead off singled and a double. The next batter walks and after that Trey was almost perfect.
He ended up going 5 innings, plus a batter, who singled (his first hit allowed since the first). In total he had 9 strikeouts (pretty good on 15 total outs), 3 hits and 2 walks.
There were some
complaining about him coming out in the sixth, but he’s a guy in his first season of professional baseball, he’s gone more than 5 innings once this year, back on May 1. We weren’t going to push him today (or this year).
His nine strikeouts are a team record for an MLB debut.
Tomorrow I’ll look to see who was the winner of the Yesavage contest.
Our offense did almost nothing all game.
We only had three hits off Joe Boyle, who was, at least Yesavage’s equal, though he only had five strikeouts in his six innings.
We finally scored/tied the game in the eighth. Ernie Clement doubled to lead off the inning. Tyler Heineman bunted him to third and Andrés Giménez hit a sac fly (I was worried it wasn’t deep enough for a moment, but Clement beat the throw easily. I’m not a bunt fan, and then I thought bunting in front of Giménez was interesting, but it worked.
And then the one run in the 11th inning, but that’s below.
Our pen did well to get us to extras:
We got a scoreless inning each from Little (1 k), Seranthony Dominguez (1 k), Louis Varland (1 walk, 1 k) and Hoffman (1 walk, 2 k).
In Extras:
Top of the 10th:
Myles Straw pinch running for Addison Barger, starts the inning on second. Alejandro Kirk struck out chasing (I thought, all game long, that players were having trouble is the lighting. Kirk rarely has an at bat like that one. Minor league parks don’t have major league lighting. I remember the Jays put better lighting in at Buffalo, but the Rays haven’t done anything like that here). Daulton Varsho hit a fly ball to medium center and Straw tagged up. Clement struck out again chasing.
Bottom of the 10th:
Braydon Fisher in. Everson Pereira pinch-running at second. A sac bunt moved the runner to third. Rays brought in pinch-hitter Richie Palacios who strikeouts. Chandler Simpson flied out to center.
Top of the 11th:
Clement is the Manfred Man. Heineman hit a fly out. Unfortunately, Clement thought it might be a hit and started running and couldn’t get back to tag up. Giménez also hit a flyout, a very good catch in left. Springer, thought he hit the catcher’s glove, the Jays challenged but he didn’t. Then he went and singled in Clement.
Bottom of the 11th:
Braydon Fisher still in. Chandler Simpson in at second. Yandy Diaz ground one softly to third and beat out the throw to first. Runners on the corners. Brandon Lowe struck out. And so did Junior Caminero (chasing high). And so did Josh Lowe. Fisher was amazing, stranding the Manfred Man in both innings.
The Yankees lost so the Jays are 5 games up on them. Right, Jazz, you guys are the best team in baseball.
We got great defense from out infielders. Giménez had a super play at short. I want to say a play Bo wouldn’t have made but who knows. Barger made a diving stop at third, got up and made a great throw. And Clement had a great play at second.
Our batters had a rough time. Springer, Lukes, Barger, Schneider, and Clement had a hit each. 11 innings and 5 hits.
Vlad, Varsho, Heineman and Giménez had 0 fors.
Jays of the Day: FISHER (.756 WPA), Hoffman (.138), Varland (.107), Yesavage (.095), Springer (.240).
Other Award: Heineman (-.199, but put down an important bunt), Varsho (-.149), Vlad (-.141), Lukes (-.141) and Kirk (-.118, for the one at bat).
Tomorrow we have Jose Berrios (9-5, 3.99) vs. Ryan Pepiot (11-10, 3.59). Again a 5:30 Eastern start time.
I had a great time in the GameThread tonight….you guys are great to watch a game with.
