Upper deck! Brandon Lowe just took Chris Bassitt 414 feet to right field, into the 500 Level. #BlueJays
Instant Reaction: Blue Jays lost 13-0 in the rubber match to the Rays
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton - USA Today
Jul 25, 2024, 18:15 EDTUpdated: Jul 25, 2024, 18:42 EDT
What can you even say about that game?
On Thursday, the Blue Jays played the rubber match against the Tampa Bay Rays, falling 13-0 to bring their season record to 46-56.
Brandon Lowe scored the game-winning run early in the first thanks to a home run that went into the 500 deck. It was the first 500-decker at Rogers Centre since he did it back in 2019. The game spiraled from there, as the Rays added two more runs in the top of the third.
Trevor Richards replaced Chris Bassitt in relief for the sixth inning, and gave up four runs, registering a single out while allowing six of the seven batters he faced to reach base, more on him later. At this point, the Blue Jays were down 7-0.
More runs were scored in the top of the seventh, as Ryan Burr allowed four of the first five batters he faced to reach, before being yanked for Nate Pearson, who allowed three more of Burr’s runs as well as one of his own to score, making it 12-0.
Ernie Clement didn’t have a good outing, but what do you expect from a position player? After a ground out, he allowed a double and a single, with the 13th and final run scoring on a forceout. Yikes.
Things worth mentioning…
Chris Bassitt deserved better than he got, as he finished with a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K to bring his season ERA to 3.78. While not a good start, it was enough to keep the Jays within striking distance.
The bats were cold though, as the team registered just two hits thanks to a Spencer Horwitz double and a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single. Horwitz also walked, as did Justin Turner and Danny Jansen.
Toronto’s bullpen had a solid run of games heading into Thursday’s affair, but that ended quickly. The bullpen gave up 10 runs in four innings, obviously not great.
Trevor Richards was doing so well, but in his last seven games, he’s given up 15 earned runs in six innings pitched. He’s on an expiring contract, and this hasn’t helped his trade value in the slightest.
Up next: The Blue Jays return to action on Friday, as they’ll host the 2023 World Series champions, the Texas Rangers. Yusei Kikuchi is slated to make the start and if he does, it’ll more than likely be his last start in a Jays’ uniform.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.