The Toronto Blue Jays’ offense was a major reason why the team made the playoffs in 2020.
The team scored double-digit runs seven times in the shortened 60-game season. They were fourth in the American League in both batting average and slugging percentage. The team was hoping the good production would continue into the postseason.
But in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday, the offense was mostly quiet. Toronto could only manage a total of five hits in the entire game and they dropped the series opener, 3-1, to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo drew some pregame criticism for his decision to start Matt Shoemaker, rather than their ace pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu. The argument could be made that it may not have mattered as his team only scored one run by game’s end. Shoemaker and Robbie Ray pitched the first six innings, three innings each, and gave up just one combined run when Ray threw a wild pitch in the fourth inning that gave the Rays a 1-0 lead.
Tampa Bay’s starting pitcher Blake Snell was excellent. He struck out nine Blue Jays batters and only surrendered one hit in 5.2 innings of work. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
The Rays extended their lead in the seventh as Manuel Margot hit a two-run home run off of Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Cole, giving the Rays a 3-0 lead.
Blue Jays slugger Rowdy Tellez did get one at-bat; pinch hitting in the eighth inning. It was the first time he had gotten into any game since his injury on Sept. 8, when he suffered a knee strain. Tellez got a single in his lone plate appearance. He eventually scored the lone Blue Jays run after a Cavan Biggio double and a sacrifice fly from Bo Bichette that brought him home.
For a full game score, click here:
Tampa Bay now leads the best-of-three series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET. The announced starting pitching matchup is Hyun Jin Ryu for Toronto and Tyler Glasnow for Tampa Bay. The game is on national TV on TBS.
Notes:
- Toronto now has a 31-31 record all-time in postseason history as a franchise.
- Charlie Montoyo became the first manager in MLB history to lose more than 90 games in his first season and then make the playoffs in his second season.