Rays pitchers allow 6 HRs in loss to Jays
aaron loup #aaronloup
The three-batter rule ended up hurting Tampa Bay’s bullpen in a big way as the Rays lost to the Blue Jays, 12-4, on Friday at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, N.Y. Tampa Bay’s winning streak was snapped at six. The Rays were ahead, 4-3, when Toronto took the lead in a
The three-batter rule ended up hurting Tampa Bay’s bullpen in a big way as the Rays lost to the Blue Jays, 12-4, on Friday at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, N.Y. Tampa Bay’s winning streak was snapped at six.
The Rays were ahead, 4-3, when Toronto took the lead in a five-run sixth. Right-hander Ryan Thompson started the inning by allowing a game-tying home run to Randal Grichuk. Thompson’s struggles continued as Rowdy Tellez singled, but he was able to get Danny Jansen to fly out to left fielder Austin Meadows.
• Box score
In came left-hander Aaron Loup to face the left-handed-hitting Cavan Biggio, who was hit by a pitch. If this were last year’s rules, manager Kevin Cash would have probably taken Loup out of the game. But Loup had to face at least three batters. Bo Bichette followed with a three-run homer to make it a 7-4 game.
Two batters later, Loup couldn’t keep the ball down and allowed a solo homer to Teoscar Hernández to make it a four-run deficit.
The Blue Jays blew it open by scoring four runs in the eighth off left-hander José Alvarado. Rays starter Trevor Richards allowed three runs, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings.
Bill Ladson has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2002. He covered the Nationals/Expos from 2002-2016. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.