The Blue Jays have been red hot in this latter half of the season, going from a team no one expected much from to a team no one saw coming. The Rays, old hands at that particular role, were hoping to play spoiler and split the four-game series at two wins apiece. They had Shane Baz on the mound to help them do it, while the Jays turned to Chris Bassitt.
Nathan Lukes got a one-out single to start the first, but a Vladimir Guerror Jr. double play eliminated the baserunner and ended the inning. In the home half, Chandler Simpson doubled, then after one out, he was caught stealing third. Yandy Diaz walked, but a Josh Lowe groundout ended the inning scoreless.
David Schneider got a one-out walk in the second, but Baz then collected the next two outs to leave him stranded. In the home half, with two outs, Hunter Fedducia and Carson Williams got back-to-back singles, then Bob Seymour singled to load the bases. A redemption single by Simpson brough two runs in, getting the Rays on the board nice and early. Brandon Lowe then singled to bring Seymour in, so the Rays were up 3-0 after two innings.
The Jays went 1-2-3 in the third. In the home half, Jake Mangum got a one-out single, then stole second. Feduccia got a two-out walk, but they were both left stranded.
It was another three-up, three-down outing for the Jays in the fourth. Love to see it. In the home half, Seymour was hit by a pitch to get a free bag. Unfortunately, a lineout and then a double play ended the inning with no runs scored.
Daulton Varsho got a one-out single in the top of the fifth, but the Jays couldn’t convert the run. Meanwhile, in the home half, Josh Lowe got a one-out double, which chased Bassitt from the game, and he was replaced by Eric Lauer. Mangum singled, though the Jays made a valiant effort to get the call overturned; the safe call on the field was upheld. It ended up not mattering as the baserunners were both left stranded.
Griffin Jax replaced Baz in the sixth. Shane’s final line for the game was 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K on 74 pitches. Jax got three outs in a row to end the inning. Carson Williams then kicked off the home half with a solo home run.
Simpson singled, and with two outs, the Jays brought in Braydon Fisher, who got the final out of the inning.
Kevin Kelly was next out of the Rays’ pen and got the Jays out in order in the top of the seventh. The Rays then went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
Garrett Cleavinger came in for the eighth and gave up a one-out single to Ernie Clement. Cleavinger did get around that little opening foible, though, getting the final outs of the inning without letting the Jays sneak in any runs. Seranthony Domínguez replaced Fisher and got the Rays out in order.
For the ninth, the Rays brought in Bryan Baker to hopefully shut things down and keep the Jays scoreless. It didn’t quite go to plan. With one out, Lukes walked, and then Guerrero singled. But thankfully, a double play then wrapped things up in a tidy little bow. The Rays split the series 2-2 and ended off with a shutout victory.
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