(St. Petersburg) ST. Toronto Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider is ready to do anything for his team to finish first among teams drafted from the American.
Posted at 10:16 p.m.
Alek Manoah and Whit Merrifield helped the Blue Jays take one step closer to that goal.
Manoah didn’t give up a run for seven innings, Merrifield hit a three-run homer and the Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Saturday night.
“I love it,” Manoah said when asked about his enjoyment of shooting in big games. We have a very good team. To be able to come and fight alongside these guys is what I’ve dreamed of all my life. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but on the mound. »
The Blue Jays took over the exclusive first place of the teams drafted from the American, one game ahead of the Rays. The team that finishes first will play an entire series at home.
Schneider mentioned Thursday that he would use Manoah in the final game of the season, if home advantage was at stake. Playing a series in Toronto would mean a lot for the Blue Jays, who played the entire 2020 season and part of the 2021 season in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Rays could also have real home-field advantage at Tropicana Field, where they are 51-29 compared to their 33-39 record on the road.
“It’s an interesting place,” Schneider said. That’s what the guys say. Whether due to the roof, the lighting, the surface or the ground in the infield. Their mound seems high. The noises are weird. The players seem to feed off of that a bit and it’s an advantage at times. »
Manoah (15-7) scatter four hits and two walks in addition to striking out eight opponents. The right-hander got out of a tight spot in the sixth inning, when there was just one out and two runners on the trails, when he passed Randy Arozarena in the mitt and forced David Peralta knocking out a candle.
Jordan Romano replaced Tim Mayza after two outs and two runners in the eighth inning. He allowed a one-run single to Harold Ramirez, but he ended the threat by striking out Manuel Margot at bat. Romano closed the books to get a 35e rescue on 41 occasions.
Rays starter Drew Rasmussen (10-7) allowed one run, three hits and two walks in six and a third innings. He struck out five batters.
The two teams totaled 31 points, including 20 by the Rays, in the first two meetings of this series, both won by the Florida squad.
Arozarena had the Rays’ first hit off Manoah when he slammed a double in the fourth inning. He became the first player in Rays history and the 20e player in Major League history to collect 40 doubles, 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season.
Teoscar Hernández ended Rasmussen’s work night by hitting a double in the seventh inning. Brooks Raley walked to the mound and after a walk to Danny Jansen, Merrifield gave the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead with his 10e campaign trail.
“These are two teams fighting for a playoff spot,” Raley said. They played hard tonight and we did too. They were treated to a good performance on the mound and ‘Ras’ did quite the job. It’s playoff baseball. »
Merrifield hit two long balls on Thursday in a 10-5 loss to the Rays.
Alejandro Kirk started the second inning with a single before Rasmussen struck out 12 consecutive batters until Merrifield hit a double in the sixth.