Bichette, Blue Jays roll past Rays in quick battle at the Trop

For a team that’s historically played terribly at Tampa’s Tropicana Field, the Blue Jays (47-70) didn’t exactly show it against the second-place Rays (66-50). Though outclassed at times, the boys in blue stole the series by winning two of three from the Rays and looked pretty good while doing it.

Here’s a look at the good, the bad, and the weird from the third edition of the Bo Show:

Bo Bichette (5-for-12, 2 R, 3 2B, HR, RBI, BB, SB) continued his unreal hot streak, while Cavan Biggio (2-for-8, R, HR, RBI, BB, SB) and Brandon Drury (4-for-8, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI) also had good sets, the latter stringing together quite the second half thus far. Elsewhere in the lineup, Randal Grichuk (4-for-11, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB, SB) was productive.

Opener Wilmer Font (2.1 IP, H, 0 R/ER, 5 SO) was phenomenal, while relievers Jason Adam (1.0 IP, H, 0 R/ER, 2 SO), Sam Gaviglio (3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 3 SO), and Derek Law (2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, SV, 2 SO) were all solid at various points in the series. Justin Shafer (2.2 IP, H, 0 R/ER, BB, 2 SO) was also great, albeit in limited innings.

Brock Stewart (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 3 SO, W) was impressive in his first outing as a Blue Jay, with Jacob Waguespack (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 4 SO, W) shutting down the Rays offense with swift efficiency in his start.

Trent Thornton (3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R/ER, 3 HB, 2 SO) stumbled in his outing, while Ken Giles (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, HR, SV) was shaky in his long appearance in the series.

With the bats, Derek Fisher (1-for-8, R, HR, 2 RBI, 3 SO) struggled, despite a home run in the finale, while Freddy Galvis (3-for-14, 2B, 7 SO), Teoscar Hernandez (0-for-7, 2 R, BB, 4 SO), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1-for-9, 3 SO), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (1-for-12, R, HR, RBI, 3 SO), and Reese McGuire (0-for-8, 3 SO, 0 TB) were all hapless at the plate.

After loading the bases in the tied bottom of the ninth inning of Wednesday’s middle game, Blue Jays reliever Buddy Boshers threw a wild pitch to catcher Danny Jansen, allowing the winning run to score. Though Boshers had gone from bases loaded, none out, to bases loaded, two outs (and two strikes), the Rays still managed to walk off in head-scratching fashion.

Now a few wins richer, the Blue Jays will head to Yankee Stadium Thursday to face off against the Yankees, who’ll send Domingo German (14-2, 3.98 ERA, 114 SO), J.A. Happ (9-6, 5.24 ERA, 91 SO), and Masahiro Tanaka (7-6, 4.93 ERA, 110 SO) to the mound to face off against Thomas Pannone (2-4, 5.98 ERA, 56 SO), Sean Reid-Foley (1-2, 2.49 ERA, 18 SO), and Jacob Waguespack (3-1, 4.00 ERA, 28 SO).