The Tampa Bay Rays bet on their ace pitcher Shane McClanahan Thursday in Toronto, and the Toronto Blue Jays suffered as they lost 11-0.
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McClanahan (12-5) was limited to five innings on the mound, having been sidelined since Aug. 30 with a left shoulder injury.
The Rays starter nevertheless appeared in great shape, having given up only three hits and a walk. Reaching 100 miles per hour on some pitches, the left-hander also made five strikeouts.
For the Jays, George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez were each held in four at bats in Thursday’s game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had just one hit, a single, in four runs in the batting box. Nothing to pay tribute to the legendary Roberto Clemente, on this day of September 15 which is dedicated to him annually in major baseball.
The Rays led 5-0 after eight innings. They added insult to injury in the ninth with six extra points in front of 23,820 discouraged fans in Toronto. At least, those who had not left the Rogers Center before the end of the meeting.
A fight to end
By losing to the Rays (80-63), the formation of Toronto, with a record of 81-63, saw their lead melt to half a game against this opponent in the standings. The two clubs in the Eastern Division of the American League are particularly engaged in the fight to finish among the teams drafted.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (12-10) was credited with the loss. Having worked for seven innings, he gave up five runs. Gausman nonetheless had seven strikeouts, bringing his total to 186 this season, a Jays high.
Since the start of the season, McClanahan has posted a 12-5 record and a 2.13 earned run average. In 152 1/3 innings, he also had 187 strikeouts.
– The Blue Jays will still be at home from Friday to Sunday, receiving a visit from the Baltimore Orioles.