Blue Jays robbed by Rays
Kiermaier’s catches help Tampa Bay blank Toronto 2-0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays were saved by a replay reversal, plus a pair of reversals by star centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Alex Cobb and four relievers combined on a six-hitter and Kiermaier made two spectacular catches Thursday as the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0.
Both of Kiermaier’s plays came in the fifth inning. The two-time Gold Glover made an all-out sprint to catch Steve Pearce’s drive with two runners on base, tumbling onto the warning track in right-centre.
Kiermaier then rushed in a long way to make diving grab on Justin Smoak’s shallow fly with the bases loaded and two outs.
The Rays also benefited when an apparent two-run double by Josh Donaldson was turned into a foul ball on replay.
Donaldson eventually walked and was left on first base.
“That’s why this can be a game of inches,” Kiermaier said. “We needed every centimetre, every millimeter possible on the Donaldson foul ball, and they got the call right.”
Toronto manager John Gibbons wasn’t quite so sure after a 98-second review determined that the ball had barely missed the foul line.
“They must have better cameras up there . . . I would expect, hopefully, because that looked like it caught something,” Gibbons said. “But that’s why they have replay.”
The only debate about Kiermaier’s catches was over which one was better.
“I heard he was a good outfielder, but I couldn’t believe he caught that first ball,” said reliever Steve Cishek, who has been with the Rays less than a month. “He found another gear.”