The Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen continues to serve up misery on a platter.
For the 10th time this season, the Jays lost a game after taking a lead – the most in the American League and the second time this season that Toronto relievers gave up a combined three home runs in a game.
Leading 3-1 in the top of the eighth, Toronto starter Marcus Stroman gave up a lead off home run to Corey Dickerson and was then replaced by Jason Grilli who was taken deep by Evan Longoria, tying the game 3-3.
Dominic Leone replaced Grilli and gave up a two-run home run to Logan Morrison. In the ninth, Leone gave up a lead-off home run to Derek Norris as the Rays stormed back to defeat the Blue Jays 7-4, Toronto’s third straight loss. Tampa reliever Austin Pruitt (3-0) took the win, Grilli (1-3) the loss and Chase Whitley picked up the save.
The Jays are now 11 games under .500 and the season is getting close to the point of no return. After the Norris’ dinger, the fans at the Rogers Centre rightly expressed their displeasure with a chorus of boos. Jays manager John Gibbons said he has to continue to show confidence in his bullpen.
“We’re in a little bit of a rut, that’s obvious. But these are our guys. You keeping running them out there, they’re all capable, they’re all good,” said Gibbons. “You can’t kill them either. You’ve got to watch those guys. But they’re going to be fine.”
The loss came despite the best efforts of Stroman and centre fielder Kevin Pillar, who had a spectacular night at the plate.
Pillar went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and a single. He also walked and scored three times. It was the first time Pillar reached base five times in a game. He rapped a bloop single to right field to lead off the first inning, extending his on-base streak to 16 straight games – 15 of which he picked up at least one hit. His career-high on-base streak is 18 games (Sept.13-Oct.4, 2015).
“He’s having a tremendous year. He’s confident, he’s running with that leadoff spot, I know that,” said Gibbons. “As we talked earlier, it was a conscious effort, a little bit more discipline at the plate. He knew it and everybody else knew it that would really benefit him. And it’s paying off.”
Stroman did not figure in the decision, but pitched well, going 7.1 innings, giving up five hits, two runs, with two walks while striking out 10.
He was replaced by Grilli after throwing 100 pitches. Stroman has now pitched six or more innings in four of his five starts this season, though he was certainly downcast after the game, despite his solid effort.
“It’s frustrating,” he said. “We kill ourselves to be at our best when we’re out there, so when things aren’t going our way, it’s tough. We’re doing everything in our power to turn this around.”
Rays’ left-handed starter Blake Snell pitched five decent innings and gave up two runs and was fortunate the damage wasn’t worse as the Jays hit the ball hard all night, most of the time to Tampa fielders.
With two out in the second, Norris hit a single just over the out-stretched glove of Jays shortstop Ryan Goins to score Beckham from third, giving the Rays a 1-0 lead.
The Jays’ run of poor record of hitting with runners on base continued in the third, though not for a lack of trying.
After Pillar walked to lead off the inning, he was sent to second on a single by Darwin Barney. Pillar was off on the pitch and had to slam on the breaks before second base when it became uncertain whether Rays’ right-fielder Steven Souza Jr. would be able to catch the Barney blooper or not. Souza dove and got his glove on it, but couldn’t hold on and Pillar slid into second safely.
The next batter Jose Bautista smashed a Snell offering to the warning track in right-centre, but Souza was able to bring it in. Kendrys Morales then hit a line drive to centre, which was caught by Kevin Kiermaier, and then Justin Smoak ended the inning by grounding out to short.
Pillar set the table for Toronto taking the lead in the fifth, smacking a lead-off double to left. He was then hit home by Barney on a single down the right field line. Bautista hit a single to where the second baseman normally is but the Rays had the shift on. Barney moved to third on the hit. Barney scored on a double play grounder by Morales, putting the Jays ahead 2-1.
Pillar’s home run came in the seventh when he smashed an 0-1 offering from Pruitt that went over the left field wall on a rope, a solo blast that put the Jays ahead 3-1. Bautista scored Pillar from third on a sacrifice fly to centre in the bottom of the ninth.
SBuffery@postmedia.com
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