The Toronto Blue Jays returned home after a somewhat disappointing road trip through San Francisco and Texas that saw them go 3-3. Many people hoped the benches clearing in Texas would have the same “impact” a similar incident that occurred against the Kansas City Royals last season had on the 2015 club. After that brawl, the Jays went on their torrid August and September. This inconsistent team could use a hot run. Monday was not the start of that run.
It was pretty clear early on that J.A. Happ didn’t have his best stuff. Happ struggled with his command, leaving most of his pitches up in the zone that the Rays hitters didn’t miss. He had his shortest stint this season, only lasting two+ innings. Happ’s final line was 2 IP, 7 hits (2 HR), 8 runs, 1 BB, 2 K. 51 pitches/30 strikes.
Rays lefty Drew Smyly, who has had success against Toronto in the past, struggled with command most of the night. The difference between him and Happ was that the Jays hitters did not take advantage of his wildness early in the game. He pitched five innings giving up only one run, but allowed four walks and four hits along the way.
The Rays continued hitting after Happ’s departure, adding five more runs off the Blue Jays bullpen and went on to beat the Jays easily by a score of 13-2.
Top Play of the Game by WPA
In the first inning, lefty killer Rays first baseman Steve Pearce hammered Happ’s first pitch over the left field fence for a two run homer. That would be just a taste of things to come and increased the WPA by 0.186.
Bottom Play of the Game by WPA
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the first, with two out, Smyly proceeded to walk the bases loaded. Troy Tulowitzki came to the plate hitting .409 in his last 22 plate appearances. With the count 2-2, Smyly threw him a fastball in the heart of the plate that he swung through to end the rally. That reduced the WPA by 0.76.
Dustin Antolin
Dustin Antolin made his major league debut and it probably wasn’t the one he dreamed he had dreamed about. Entering the game in the third inning with runners at first and second and your team down by six was not an ideal situation. After getting the first batter out, he proceeded to give up his first hit…a home run to Rays catcher Chris Casali. The next inning, he gave up another two runs on a double by Desmond Jennings, which ended his night, and possibly his stay with the big league club.
Joe Biagini
The Rule-V pick from San Francisco, Joe Biagini continues to impress as a member of the Blue Jays bullpen. He faced the minimum over two innings, mixing and locating his fastball and change up while throwing the occasional curveball. His future may be in the rotation, but it will be interesting to see if his immediate role in the bullpen changes based on his performance of late.
Drew Storen
If the Jays are going to contend it is important to have Drew Storen be effective and for him to reclaim his role as the set-up man in the bullpen. Tonight was a perfect opportunity to have him pitch in a low pressure (to say the least) situation. It didn’t start off great when his first pitch was rocked down the left field line by Steven Souza for a double, but he was able to bounce back and strike out the side. It was a silver lining to an otherwise lacklustre performance.
Up Next
The Jays will try to end their mini three game losing streak as tomorrow with Marcus Stroman taking on right hander Chris Archer starting at 7:07 pm. Tomorrow is when the season starts to turn around. Or not. It could also be the game when John Gibbons will stay in until the final out. Or not.
Lead Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports