The Tampa Bay Rays quickly fell behind the Toronto Blue Jays 6-0 on Tuesday night before rallying to win 7-6 in extra innings.
Opener Andrew Kittredge started the game red hot recording five consecutive strikeouts before yielding a single to outfielder Randal Grichuk. Things would continue to unravel with a walk issued to Teoscar Henandez. Then, Brandon Drury gave the Blue Jays an early 3-0 lead with a three-run home run.
Rookie second baseman Cavan Biggio extended Toronto’s lead to 4-0 with a solo home run in the third off of bulk pitcher Ryan Yarbrough.
The visiting Jays then plated two more runs in the fourth when Rays’ third baseman Matt Duffy struggled to find the handle on a two-out grounder. He subsequently rushed the throw well wide of first baseman Jesús Aguilar increasing the margin to 6-0.
The Rays bats came roaring back in the bottom of the fourth with three two-run home runs each of which was preceded by a single. Avísail García (15) notched the first to get the Rays on the board 6-2. Willy Adames (15) followed with his own two-run shot following a Matt Duffy single.
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud singled with two outs before Austin Meadows hit his own two-run blast. A moon shot Statcast registered as his longest of the season at 447-feet with an exit velocity of 109 m.p.h. and a 25 degree launch angle.
This is what you'd call, "a brand new ballgame".#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/LFj5uBoqyk
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 7, 2019
The game remained scoreless through the ninth, but things got really interesting in the final scheduled frame for both teams. Emilio Pagán recorded back-to-back swinging strikeouts with two runners in scoring position including Biggio on three-straight fastballs.
Toronto reliever Jason Adam responded with some mettle of his own. He struck out Garcia swinging with runners on first and second in a nine pitch at-bat sending the game into extras.
The scoring drought came to a close in the bottom of the 10th. Kevin Kiermaier scored on a two-out wild pitch with bases loaded to walk it off for the Rays. A merciful outcome as the team went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position on the night.
The series-deciding game 3 will be an afternoon-getaway game Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. Brandon McKay is scheduled to get the start.
News and Notes
• Don’t look now but Willy Adames is heating up at home (4-for-14, 2 HR over the last four games). Entering the current homestand, Adames had posted a .171/.217/.229/.446 with just two home runs at Tropicana Field in 2019.
• Anthony Banda tossed fourth scoreless innings getting the win for the Rays AAA-Affliate Durham Bulls. (h/t to Josh Tolentino of The Athletic). An encouraging sign after struggling in his previous two starters (7 ER, 3.1 IN).
In total, Banda has made nine (nine starts) rehab appearances and allowed 11 ER over 14.1 IN with 15K and 8BB. Banda figures to be the next man up with Yonny Chirinos expected to be out for up to a month with a swollen/blistered middle finger issue.
• Travis d’Arnaud is one of three hitters with a wRC+ of 200 or better since the All-Star break.
