BASE-RUNNING GAMBLE LIFTS JAYS
The Blue Jays gambled and hit the jackpot in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at the Rogers Centre.
It all came down to the managers’ moves in the sixth. With the Rays ahead 1-0, Tampa starter Trevor Glasnow walked leadoff batter Luke Maile. He was replaced by lefty reliever Jose Alvarado. In a matching move, Toronto skipper John Gibbons pinch-hit Kevin Pillar for Curtis Granderson and Pillar responded with a double to left. Devon Travis hit a single up the middle to bring Maile home and tie the game 1-1. Alvarado was replaced by Ryne Stanek. Randal Grichuk then hit a dribbler a couple of feet past home plate. Tampa catcher Michael Perez gunned him out at first. But Pillar then broke for home and just beat the throw from first to Stanek. Pillar was ruled safe and the replay confirmed it. The win prevented a sweep by the Rays.
“We were going on contact,” said Pillar. “It’s been a little bit of (struggle) to score runs, especially off these guys, they pitch real well. That’s the great thing about Gibby. I got picked off (Saturday) trying to steal second base, trying to be aggressive. He doesn’t hold grudges or take your aggression away. He actually encourages it.”
Toronto starter Marcus Stroman pitched well but left the game with Tampa ahead 1-0 after five innings and only 76 pitches due to a blister in his right middle finger, which bothered him in his last start (Aug.7). He gave up one run on five hits, walking one. Ken Giles pitched the ninth his first save as a Jay.