The Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays have been playing cat and mouse for a few weeks now in hopes of getting a good chair ahead of the 2022 playoffs. Yesterday at Tropicana Field, Alek Manoah was very solid, allowing his team to defeat their division rivals by the score of 3-1.
This productive exit from the big right-hander puts his team on the path to victory, they who had lost their three previous meetings.
Since the start of the campaign, the man, who is in his second season in Toronto, has shown extraordinary consistency and confidence for a young 24-year-old athlete and his way of approaching each of his starts has very often allowed the his to face the music and thus bounce back better.
Manoah was in control against the Rays, shutting them out for seven innings and being very stingy on the mound. The number 6 Jays recorded a 15th win this season and a 24th in less than two seasons.
Manoah’s eight strikeouts yesterday make him the fastest pitcher to reach the 300 mark in the Toronto franchise.
His earned run average, which stands at 2.31, also places him among the big names in the organization.
On offense, Whit Merrifield drove in all of the visitors’ runs on his 10th home run of the season, a three-run slap in the seventh inning.
Jordan Romano struck out three Rays batters in just over an inning for his 35th save this season. Romano did not have an easy week, he who screwed up two chances to save a win, a first this season.
With this win, John Schneider’s men now lead the Rays by one game in the race for best second.
This afternoon, at the conclusion of this important series and before returning home to host the New York Yankees, Ross Stripling will look to continue his excellent work against Cy Young Trophy candidate, Shane McClanahan.
- Another big season for Nolan Arenado.
- The season in Saint-Louis is magical.
- 100th victory this season in Houston.
- It seems to be the end for Kevin Kiermaier.
- Hard blow for the Dodgers.
