One wobbly first inning does in both Jose Berrios and punchless Blue Jays
Following a rough start, Jose Berrios pitched five scoreless innings
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Amid the Florida heat, the Blue Jays’ bats have gone ice cold.
And unless some defrosting is experienced in the ensuing hours leading up to Sunday’s first pitch, the Jays are in danger of getting swept by the host Tampa Bay Rays, who took two of three when they recently visited Toronto for a three-game series.
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One wobbly first inning does in both Jose Berrios and punchless Blue Jays Back to video
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Lack of offence has been the prevailing theme in Tampa. Just when it appeared the Jays had turned the corner following a winning home stand, they’ve taken a step back, the latest misstep unfolding Saturday night in a 3-1 loss.
In the series opener, the Rays also won 3-1, on a night the Jays drew eight walks, the lone run coming on a double-play ball.
Saturday’s lone run came on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. solo home run in the sixth inning.
Not exactly deja vu, but a three-peat is possible if the Jays don’t find a way to unpack their hitting shoes.
The following are a couple of takeaways on a night when the Blue Jays and Rays emerged with identical 25-26 records.
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Okay, Jose
There’s no use in sugar-coating any discussion of what amounts to a three-man rotation.
No one can say with certainty what Bowden Francis is capable of producing given his penchant for yielding home runs. And there’s no legitimate fifth starter.
The pressure, in other words, falls squarely on the shoulders of Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt.
Berrios started Saturday and he began the night looking quite shaky.
He thought he caught a break in the first inning on a ground-rule double by Brandon Lowe that would have easily scored Josh Lowe, who had walked with one out.
But it only delayed the heartbreak for Berrios, who promptly gave up a no-doubt home run to left field by Junior Caminero, who went deep for the ninth time this season.
Only the free-falling Baltimore Orioles (82) have surrendered more homers than the Blue Jays (73).
After he gave up the Caminero homer, Berrios retired the next 13 hitters in a row before he gave up a two-out single in the fifth inning and was replaced to start the seventh.
Berrios’ record dropped to 1-2. He’s had eight no-decisions.
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Not-so bad Vlad
Somehow, more had to be summoned from Vlad Jr.
While his lucrative contract extension doesn’t kick in until next season, the franchise face needs to pick up the pace.
Granted, an eighth-inning walk in Friday’s loss extended his on-base streak to an MLB-high 23 games.
No one is suggesting he’s been a slug because he hasn’t, but it would help the team’s cause if Guerreroo resorted to his slugging ways.
In his past nine games entering Saturday, he had recorded one extra-base hit, a home run on May 15 in an 8-3 loss to visiting Tampa.
The narrative did change when he led off the sixth inning with line-drive homer into left field, a Statcast-measured 423-foot rocket.
It was Vladdy’s seventh homer, which tied him with Daulton Varsho for the club lead.
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Up next
The 1:40 p.m. series finale promises to be a hot and humid affair for the Jays and Rays … There’s no roof at the spring training home of the New York Yankees, while the host Rays have justifiably played most of their games at night when the weather isn’t as stifling. Speaking of hot, Bassitt (4-2, 2.83 ERA) is coming off arguably his best outing when he earned the win in pitching six scoreless innings against the visiting San Diego Padres this past Tuesday. He’ll make his 11th start of the season Sunday.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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