This is a hill where it is very difficult to protect the Blue Jays The first match of two games against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Toronto lost starter Kevin Gausman in the early stages, shaped as a great duel with Rays' nine-game winner Shane McClanahan. However, in the second inning, a rocket away from Gausman's right ankle ended his afternoon.
Right-handed Casey Lawrence, summoned by Buffalo as an additional man in this doubleheader, was also hit by a drive on the mound and was able to continue, but finally helped Tampa with three runbursts. Burned in 6-2 wins.
But for Jaze in the big picture, it's just as important that Lawrence comes unexpectedly and can sustain almost 6 innings to give the bullpen a break from a long stretch. It was no holiday.
Gausman was trying to erase the situation where the base was loaded after walking the second lead-off man, Yandy Diaz. Wander Franco put it back in the box, but alert catcher Gabriel Moreno held the ball and defeated Franco. Gausman collapsed with considerable pain, but eventually he walked to the bargain himself. The radiograph of his ankle was negative.
Gausman is aiming for his seventh victory, another important victory in the American League East wildcard, with a strong seven-strong victory over the Red Sox. I recovered from the rough seas in June.
Lawrence quickly warmed up and popped up the first two batters he faced, but Isaac Paredes sent a 1-0 delivery to the left fielder. Lawrence steadily proceeded to incite Kevin Kiermaier and two of the next three men he faced, but fifth was beaten himself in the center by Randy Arosalena, and Franco was home. I was able to scoop up. Lawrence also continued to be checked by medical staff, but Rays refilled the bag for a two-run single in focus.
Franco also pushed Homer to the left with a sixth two out. Max Castillo was finally called when Taylor Walls singled off Lawrence, but Diaz was able to drive Lawrence after the stolen base.
The run in Toronto was fast. Bo Bichette has maintained a series of team doubles since Friday, scoring a single for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. This was "Vladand Dadd Bobblehead Day", a gift of a young Jaze star and his famous father's figurine. He also had a fulfilling time in Canada at the Montreal Expo. There were pictures of his early father and son during a video tribute to the family, but the single was all that Junior could gather for 39,426 spectators at the Rogers Center.
McClanahan hit 10 before Javy Guerra saved him in 8th place. Gera took a high pitch break to Guerrero, who was able to load the base of Teoscar Hernandez, but Guerrero was pulled back from the walk trot and jumped out to end the threat.
The Phoenix Sanders closed and the ball double-played by Matt Chapman won Hernandez.
During the game, Jays announced that he had cashed left-handed Anthony Banda from the Pittsburgh Pirates and moved right-handed Julian Merryweather to the 60-day injured list. Buffalo starter Thomas Hatch was to start Jaze's nightcap.
lhornby@postmedia.com
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