More Chirinos, Please! Rays Win 7-6 In The 12th Inning

The original manifestation of this recap comes from SBN Tampa Bay, your source for everything Rays, Bucs, Bulls, and Tampa Bay sports.

The Rays (58-52) pushed the Blue Jays (56-55) one more game further back from third place, beating Toronto in a 12 inning late-game slugfest. Wade Davis, for the second straight start, hit trouble early, loading the bases with no outs in the top of the first. The Blue Jays barely took advantage, though, and left the inning with a 2-0 lead. Davis then hit a groove, pitching three consecutive 1-2-3 innings.

In the bottom of third inning, Justin Ruggiano and Desmond Jennings singled, then Evan Longoria belted a towering homer to left field, giving the Rays their first lead, 3-2. The Jose Bautista became displeased with human affairs in the eighth inning and thusly popped his 33rd homer of the season off Davis.

J.P. Howell closed the inning for Davis without any damage, but then, in the top of the 10th, Joel Peralta walked J.P. Arencibia and Yunel Escobar. Peralta picked off Arencibia's pinch hitter, Rajai Davis, but then left in favor of Jake McGee, who allowed a devastating, one-run double to Colby Rasmus.

In the bottom of the tenth, with the Blue Jays now leading 4-3, Desmond Jennings kindly redirected Jon Rauch's fastball to the left field seats, again tying the game at 4-4.

Juan Cruz then joined the game in the top of the 11th, but two singles and a rare Jose Molina triple later, the Rays were losing 6-4. Jon Rauch started the bottom of the 11th, but promptly allowed B.J. Upton to double and Casey Kotchman to single. Matt Joyce grounded out, scoring Upton and bringing the game to 6-5.

Shawn Camp emerged from the Jays 'pen and induced a fly out from the ever-struggling Elliot Johnson. Then, pinch hitting for Kelly Shoppach, Robinson Chirinos singled up the middle and tied the game 6-6.

After Brandon Gomes pitched a quiet 12th inning, B.J. Upton hit a key, one-out triple. Camp intentionally walked contact-maven Casey Kotchman and left-handed Matt Joyce and then struck out Elliot Johnson. Then, with one out remaining, Robinson Chirinos grounded a 2-1 pitch just beyond the reach of Yunel Escobar and a mob of Rays met him at first base.

Rays win, 7-6.

Thoughts:

• I, personally, would like to see lots mo' of Robinson Chirinos. His hits were not power displays today, but it seems he's got everything we might want in a catcher. And, at worst, he could make a better platoon mate for John Jaso.
• Desmond Jennings: He's the real deal. He my team.
• Am I crazy, or does this feel like the first comeback win for the Rays all year?