TB 6, TOR 7: Jays out power Rays

It’s always exciting with these Rays. Yes, this one is another in a frustratingly long list of close losses (or as I like to consider them: “almost wins”). However, this team not only competes in almost every game, they also do fun things like come from behind late in games.

What’s not so fun: A non-sharp Odorizzi and home runs given up by the pen.

Jake Odorizzi has had a rough go of it lately. Two starts ago, he got shelled badly in Seattle to the tune of 4 hits, 3 walks, and 8 runs (although just 3 of those earned) in just 2 innings and change. Tonight, every inning was a slog.

Odorizzi allowed runners in each of his first 3 innings, mostly through his own doing with 3 BB in those first 3 frames. After a clean 4th, it seemed that maybe, just maybe, Jake had settled down a bit and was out of the woods. Turns out, not so much.

A single and an error to start the 5th put Jake into another big jam. Odo responded with a big strikeout of Josh Donaldson, but Jose Bautista kept the rally going with a single, bringing home the Jays 2nd run. The Jays next 3 runs came home a bit quicker, as Kendrys Morales took a splitter way out of the park.

Flash forward to the 8th inning, with the Jays sporting a 6-3 lead, the Rays batters mounted their comeback.

The middle of the order struck quickly, with a base hit from Longo and another home run from Logan Morrison. This time, LoMo took a tough pitch the other way, and barely got it out and over the LF wall. This year from LoMo is just getting silly.

A Souza walk and a Rasmus single later, and the Rays were in position to tie the game with on a Derek Norris’ just deep enough sac fly.

Sadly, this comeback would be quickly erased by the very first batter of the bottom half of the 8th. Russell Martin took a dead center fastball from Jose Alvarado, and he Al-va-rode that sucker for the go-ahead, and ultimately winning, home run.

Extra Notes:

• It didn’t fit into the main recap, but Corey Dickerson’s triple needs to be in here and in gif form.

Dickerson is amazing, and he shows that night in and night out.