Tampa Bay Rays defeat Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 – MLB Update
The American League’s Tampa Bay Rays is moving positively to make it to the post-season, as they overpowered the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 in the series-opener at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday, August 26 to get a solid 1-0 lead in four-game series.
The Rays’ starter James Shields repeated his excellent form and worked a complete game to get his 12th win of the season. He allowed only one run, in the second inning and struck-out twelve batters to destroy the strong batting line-up of the
Blue Jays. The right-hand gritty hurler walked only one and went for seven hits in his spell extended to 125 pitches. This win has improved his ERA to 2.96 with 12-10 record in 27 starts.
"I told (manager Joe Maddon) at the beginning of spring training that I hadn't had a CG since 2008," Shields said. "When I got called up to the big leagues, that's one of the things that I prided myself in was going deep in games and actually finishing them."
With an exceptional pitching exhibition, shields received a stormy back up from the batters. Rays scored five of their six runs on home-runs, two of which were launched by Evan Longoria. After the Blue Jays got a 1-0 lead in the second innings, the Rays’
left-fielder Desmond Jennings grabbed the game to his side with a stunning 424-feet long two-run homer in the third inning.
Longoria followed this path in the fourth inning when he launched his first of the game and 23rd of the season. Longoria improved this number to 24 in the sixth inning when he hammered a 420-feet long one-run homer. It was Longoria’s 133rd
career hit against the Blue Jays.
"I was kind of surprised at him," Longoria said. "I've known him for a couple of years now and he seems like a real calm and collected guy. It happens to all of us. He lost his temper for a second."
Catcher John Jaso touched his fourth homer of the season in beautiful style in the seventh inning. Matt Joyce scored the sixth run on a wild pitch by the Blue Jays’ closer Wil Ledezma in the ninth inning.
Blue Jays’ starter Henderson Alvarez lost his second straight game allowing three home-runs for four scores and two walks over his six innings. His spell was 101 pitches long, in which he also made six strike-outs. Joel Carreno allowed one run on two innings
and closer Ledezma gave one run over one inning.
The Blue Jays now has improved their winning season to 71 while they have lost 59 that will create trouble for them in getting through to the post-season. They are in competition with the AL leader New York Yankees and solid Boston Red Sox.
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