Don’t look now folks, but the Toronto Blue Jays have won two in a r0w as they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 in the first of a four game series.
Starting pitcher, Carlos Villanueva had an awesome night on the mound. In six innings pitched, he gave up only five hits, absolutely no earned runs, one walk, and struck out a total of seven batters.
As a longtime Jays fan, I’ve become used to them being spoilers near the end of the season and like I mentioned in my last article I enjoy it from time to time. However, like most Jays fans, I wished that they could’ve played like this way in the earlier in the season when they were still in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Now don’t get me wrong. I realized that the Jays have lost many of their key players to injury and John Farrell (the manager) had to work with a short bench. However, there were a few games in August that they let slip through their fingers that might have made a difference for them in the standings, particularly the wildcard.
The second game couldn’t have been more entertaining than it was. Not one, but two Tampa Bay runners were thrown out at the plate.
In the second inning, Rajai Davis threw out Matt Joyce and Moises Sierra threw out Elliot Johnson to end the game at the top of the ninth inningto give the Jays a 2-1 victory. “Just an outstanding finish,” said Jay’s manager, John Farrell after the game. He is absolutely right in my opinion anyway.
NUMBER 35 Edwin Encarnacion hits his 35th home run of the season.
Oh, Sierra also hit the game tying home run in the bottom of the third inning. The winning home run was by who else, Edwin Encarnacion in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was his 35th home run of the season.
Despite giving up eight hits in the game, starting pitcher, Brandon Morrow had a very good night on the mound. In 6.2 innings pitched, he only gave up one earned run, one walk, and struck out five batters.
In the third game, The Jays came close, but not close enough as they lost 5-4. Edwin Encarnacion continues to amaze me. He hit his 36th homer of the season and I don’t think he’s done yet.
This afternoon’s game was over for the Jays before they even got up to bat. Tampa Bay hammered them 9-4. The Rays also out hit the Jays 18-8. The only highlight for the Jays was Edwin Encarnacion’s home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was his 37th homer of the season.
As for starting pitcher, Ricky Romero, this was his worse outing yet. He gave up eight hits, seven earned runs, one walk, and struck out no batters before leaving the game in the second inning. It was so bad, the crowd at the Roger Center boo him as he left the field and who can blame them. He has done nothing in over a month. This guy is in a real slump and is having trouble getting out of it. The Jays fans, including myself, are getting fed up. Romero, who had so much promise in the beginning of the season, is now becoming the worse pitcher in the Blue Jays rotation and is becoming no longer a fan favourite.
The Jays host the Baltimore Orioles for three games, starting tomorrow.
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