J.A. Happ and Chris Archer went toe to toe in the early innings, but the Blue Jays bullpen couldn’t keep the Rays from untying the game. Jose Bautista opened the scoring with a two-run home run off of an unusually wild Chris Archer in the third inning. A seventh inning home run by Kevin Pillar, his first of the season, looked like it might make a winner of J.A. Happ. It was not to be though, as the 3-2 lead would not stand. Happ allowed the tying run on an Evan Longoria homer, and after Jesse Chavez held the line, Brett Cecil came in the ninth inning. Two misplayed balls later, the Rays had men on second and third with nobody out. Curt Casali then ended the night with a single over the drawn in infield.
Top Play of the Game by WPA
After retiring the first two batters in the seventh inning by inducing pop ups, J.A. Happ gave up a home run to Logan Forsythe (+.260 WPA), tying the game at 3-3. This set would eventually lead to Brett Cecil in the 9th instead of Roberto Osuna seeking his second save in as many nights.
Bottom Play of the Game by WPA
Kevin Pillar doubled with one out in the ninth inning, and after Ryan Goins grounded him over to third base, John Gibbons went to Matt Dominguez as a pinch hitter for Joth Thole. Dominguez proceeded to strike out (-.115 WPA) to end the Jays rally, and setting up the walkoff loss minutes later.
Brett Cecil Makes Us Uncomfortable
No it’s not just you, it really has been a while since anybody’s started things out like “Squints”.
#BlueJays Brett Cecil becomes the first MLB reliever since at least 1913 to lose 5 games in the month of April
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 1, 2016
Reliever wins and losses don’t mean much, but Cecil has been horrible almost every time out. April is over, so he can’t add to that record.
Up Next
The Blue Jays send Marcus Stroman (3-0, 4.37) to the mound on Sunday, trying to salvage a series win against Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.58), who struck them out ten times in a no decision during his season debut. The game will start at 1:10 pm eastern.
Lead Photo: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports