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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays tie the Rays late, but ultimately fall 6-5
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Feb 27, 2026, 16:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 27, 2026, 16:32 EST
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If a game isn’t televised or on the radio, did it even happen?
On Friday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays headed down south to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, Florida. Falling into an early hole, they made a late comeback attempt, tying the game, but ultimately falling 6-5 to move their Spring Training record to 1-5-1. Let’s take a look at what happened in this one.
The Blue Jays didn’t get a runner on in the top of the first inning, and they quickly put themselves in a hole in the bottom half of the inning. Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda each hit a single, followed by a hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Junior Caminero hit a single to score two, then Cedric Mullins hit a sacrifice fly to score a third run.
In the top of the second, the Jays threatened to tie it after Jesús Sánchez and Eloy Jiménez walked. Leo Jiménez hit a single to score a run and put two runners on with no outs, but C.J. Stubbs struck out, Ben Cowles popped out, and Riley Tirotta flew out.
The Rays’ three-run lead was extended in the bottom of the third, as Mullins hit a home run. In the bottom of the fourth, the Rays added another one thanks to three singles and a sacrifice fly before the Jays even got their first out, making it 5-1.
It wasn’t until the top of the eighth until there was scoring again. Sean Keys led off the inning with a single, Carlos Mendoza walked, and with two outs, Rafael Lantigua drove in the Blue Jays’ second run. RJ Schreck reached safely due to a fielding error that scored two, then Arjun Nimmala hit a double that drove in the game-tying run.
Unfortunately, the Jays weren’t able to hold on for the tie, as the Rays hit a lead-off double in the bottom of the eighth, moved the runner to third with a ground out, then a sacrifice fly was hit to bring home the game-winning run.

Takeaways…

This wasn’t a great start for left-handed starter Eric Lauer, as he gave up three earned runs in an inning and two-thirds pitched. Braydon Fisher and Mason Fluharty each gave up an earned run in their inning of work, as did Jorge Alcala.
The Rays didn’t score for three innings because of CJ Van Eyk, as he allowed just one hit and two walks in those three innings of work, striking out three in the process. Conor Larkin also pitched in this game, getting Lauer out of the second inning after giving up a hit and walk.
It was a quiet game for the Blue Jays’ bats as well, as their lone extra base hit was their final hit of the game, an RBI double from top prospect Arjun Nimmala. Rafael Lantigua, Leo Jiménez, and Sean Keys had the three other hits. Interestingly, Jiménez’s single was the third hardest hit ball, clocking on on the radar gun at 110.6 mph.
Games like this are brutal, but thankfully the Blue Jays are back in action on television on Saturday. It’s a split squad game, as they’ll host the Philadelphia Phillies in Dunedin at 1:07 PM ET, while their other team faces the New York Yankees on the road. José Berríos gets the road start, Dylan Cease gets the home start.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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