Final
Jays try to narrow the gap in AL East
Jun 22, 2015 - 12:17 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Drew Hutchison can help Toronto close the gap in the American League East on Monday when the Blue Jays begin a three-game series with the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.Toronto comes into the contest three games back of the Rays after losing two of three over the weekend to the Baltimore Orioles. After winning the first game, the Jays lost the final two, including a wild 13-9 setback on Sunday.
Baltimore scored seven runs in the second inning only to see the Jays answer with six in the home half of the frame. However, with the score tied at 9-9 in the ninth, the Orioles reeled off four runs to take the rubber match.
Jose Bautista, Ezequiel Carrera and Kevin Pillar all homered in the loss.
"I'm proud of the guys. We've got a great offense," manager John Gibbons said. "What we did today was tough to do."
Now the Jays turn to Hutchison, who has won his last three decisions and is 6-1 on the year with a 5.33 ERA. Hutchison beat the New York Mets on Wednesday, scattering four hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
Hutchison, though, is 2-2 in five starts versus the Rays with a 6.31 ERA.
Tampa will oppose him with righty Matt Andriese, who picked up a win in relief against Washington his last time out. Andriese twirled four scoreless innings in that one on Wednesday and improved to 2-1 to go along with a 3.26 ERA.
Andriese has faced the Jays three times (one start) this year, but has yet to record a decision. He did, though, pick up a save and has surrendered four runs in 8 2/3 innings to them.
Tampa was denied a sweep in its weekend series with the Cleveland Indians, but received yet another strong start in its 1-0 loss.
Alex Colome was perfect through five innings for Tampa Bay, retiring the first 16 Cleveland hitters he faced before Michael Bourn singled with one out in the sixth. He walked two and fanned four over his seven shutout frames.
Cleveland won the game with a sacrifice fly in the ninth, as the Rays had a four-game winning streak stopped. Tampa has allowed just six runs in its last five games.
"I'm really excited about the way the guys played on this trip," manager Kevin Cash said. "We played really good baseball. We played great today, we just couldn't manufacture that missing run."
Tampa has won six of its seven matchups with the Jays this season.
- TORONTO: 8
TAMPA BAY: 5
Final
Jun 22 10:38 PM - Danny Valencia singles to left field. Ezequiel Carrera scores.
Blue Jays 8, Rays 5 Top 8, 2 OutsJun 22 10:01 PM - Rene Rivera doubles to deep left field. Steven Souza Jr. scores.
Blue Jays 7, Rays 5 Bot 7, 2 OutsJun 22 9:45 PM - Valencia grounded out, third baseman Longoria to first baseman Elmore, Colabello scored, Carrera to second.
Blue Jays 7, Rays 3 Top 6, 2 OutsJun 22 9:12 PM - Danny Valencia grounds out to shallow infield, Evan Longoria to Jake Elmore. Ezequiel Carrera to second. Chris Colabello scores.
Blue Jays 7, Rays 3 Top 6, 1 OutJun 22 9:11 PM - Carrera singled to right, D.Navarro scored, Colabello to third.
Blue Jays 6, Rays 3 Top 6, 1 OutJun 22 9:09 PM - Ezequiel Carrera singles to right field. Chris Colabello to third. Dioner Navarro scores.
Blue Jays 6, Rays 3 Top 6, 1 OutJun 22 9:09 PM - Colabello doubled to left, Encarnacion scored, D.Navarro to third.
Blue Jays 5, Rays 3 Top 6, 1 OutJun 22 9:07 PM - Chris Colabello doubles to deep left field. Dioner Navarro to third. Edwin Encarnacion scores.
Blue Jays 5, Rays 3 Top 6, 1 OutJun 22 9:07 PM - Longoria singled to center, Kiermaier scored, J.Butler to third.
Blue Jays 1, Rays 3 Bot 2, 2 OutsJun 22 7:55 PM - Evan Longoria singles to center field. Joey Butler to third. Kevin Kiermaier scores.
Blue Jays 1, Rays 3 Bot 2, 2 OutsJun 22 7:55 PM - Kevin Kiermaier singles to right center field. Jake Elmore scores.
Blue Jays 1, Rays 2 Bot 2, 2 OutsJun 22 7:51 PM - Colabello grounded out, shortstop A.Cabrera to first baseman Elmore, D.Navarro scored.
Blue Jays 1, Rays 1 Top 2, 1 OutJun 22 7:37 PM - Chris Colabello grounds out to shortstop, Asdrubal Cabrera to Jake Elmore. Dioner Navarro scores.
Blue Jays 1, Rays 1 Top 2, 0 OutsJun 22 7:36 PM - David DeJesus singles to center field. Kevin Kiermaier scores.
Blue Jays 0, Rays 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsJun 22 7:26 PM - Jose Reyes flies out to center field to Kevin Kiermaier.
Jun 22 7:11 PM - TORONTO: 0
TAMPA BAY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 22 7:11 PM
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