Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press
Published Monday, August 2, 2021 6:43 PM EDT
Last updated on Monday, August 2, 2021 6:43 PM EDT
Toronto’s left-hander Robby Ray fought his first appearance in a Blue Jays uniform at the Rogers Center on Monday in a 5-2 loss to Cleveland in the 10th inning.
The defeat stopped a four-game winning streak for Toronto (54-49), and three straight wins begin on his return to the Rogers Center for the first time in 22 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ray, 5-2 in his last seven starts and 9-5 overall this season, suffered defeat thanks to a two-run-game-binding explosion from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the sixth inning. But Ray wasn’t as keen as usual. As a result, he had to grapple with a bulging pitch count that hit 64 after just three innings.
“I haven’t played this team this year and I haven’t really seen it,” he said. “You definitely got me to work today. They didn’t hunt and they didn’t swing and miss much. “
Cleveland Hitters fouled too many of Ray’s early offers, putting the Blue Jays Lefty deep in the count with their early bats innings.
Cleveland (52-51) snatched a 2-0 lead in the third inning when it sent seven hitters to the plate and invited the bases with an out to singles by Myles Straw and Amed Rosario and a walk to hitter-designate Franmil Reyes .
A single knocked to the right of Harold Ramirez but Toronto outfielder Randal Grichuk knocked Rosario out on home plate. Cleveland’s right fielder Oscar Mercado, however, increased his team’s lead to 2-0 with a singles to the left, scoring Reyes.
Ray managed six innings, allowing six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. But after 109 pitches (66 strikes) he was ready for the day. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo decided to oust Ray for the sixth inning after striking out his last two batter in the fifth.
“He’s having a great year. It was easy for me to send him (for a sixth inning, 3/8), ”said Montoyo.
Ray now has 15 quality starts, front runner in the American League.
Righty Adam Cimber was called in to start the seventh inning and new rescuer Joakim Soria enjoyed a one-two-three-eighth inning. Soria was acquired before Major League Baseball closed on Friday.
Another freshman, left-handed Brad Hand, gave up three runs in the 10th inning, on a single from Rosario who scored the automatic runner in second place to start the frame. Harold Ramirez then hit a homer from the left foul pole. Hand joined the Blue Jays after trading last Thursday.
The Blue Jays failed to pitch a rally in the late game against the Cleveland Relievers, a worrying trend for the young Toronto lineup despite their gaudy offensive stats.
“We’re going to meet the best rescuers in the game,” said Montoyo. “But for such a powerful line-up we have to do better. Our stroke is so good that we should be able to do it better. “
Until Guerrero touched Cleveland starter Eli Morgan in the sixth inning for his 34th homer, the 25-year-old right-hander was enjoying a solid eighth career start. He lasted six innings with nine strikeouts.
“He changed the speed well. It seems we didn’t get many good punches against him, ”said Montoyo.
Blue Jays outfielder George Springer led the sixth inning with a single-to-center. With chants from MVP, MVP from most of the 14,653 fans at the Rogers Center, Guerrero then struck a 1-0 pitch in the left seats for the MLB-leading 160th round tripper for the Blue Jays.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 2, 2021.