Veteran RHP Kevin Gausman settles into his start following two delays

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The Blue Jays have hit their way to the top of the AL standings, coming back from deficits by coming up big at the plate in late-game moments.

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Every once in a while, however, Toronto’s offence goes silent.

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And such was the case Wednesday night as the Jays lost 2-1 in the third game of a four-part series against the host Tampa Bay Rays.

Kevin Gausman wasn’t as stellar as he was in his pevious start, but no one was expecting a second successive complete game shutout from the veteran right-hander.

He wasn’t bad, at all. In fact, any kind of offensive support would have put Gausman in line to earn the win.

The Jays managed to produce just four hits, including one for extra bases, against an inexperienced starter in Ian Seymour before Tampa’s bullpen sealed the deal to snap a six-game Toronto win streak.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off the ninth by hitting a pop-out on the first pitch to cap off an 0-for-4 night as his struggles during the series continued.

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The following are three takeaways on a night the Jays would see their record drop to 89-63, Rays speedy outfielder Chandler Simpson rob Alejandro Kirk of a three-run homer in the fourth inning — it did score Davis Schneider from third on a sacrifice fly for the lone Jays run of the game — while producing three hits of his own that included knocking in the winning run in the seventh inning.

Infield of dreams

The composition of Wednesday’s starting infield spoke to the kind of depth the Jays have assembled and the options available to manager John Schneider, making it all the more intriguing what the team eventually does when naming its post-season roster.

Ernie Clement started at shortstop after he handled the duties at second base on Tuesday, Davis Schneider was at second with Ty France at first base. At the hot corner was Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

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So much of the team’s defensive look when the post-season arrives will hinge on the health of Bo Bichette, whose left knee injury will keep him out of the lineup for the balance of the regular season.

In a best-case scenario, Bichette returns to the lineup and serves as designated hitter.

Depending on the pitching matchup, the Jays can go in different directions, including having Addison Barger start at third base.

Schneider has gone on record as saying baseball’s best infielder is Andres Gimenez, who was not in Wednesday’s starting lineup after starting predominantly at short in Bichette’s absence.

Nothing left for chance

It’s no secret Barger has done his best hitting when facing right-handers. He does, after all, bat left.

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But as the Jays inch ever so closer to officially nailing down a post-season berth following last year’s non-playoff campaign, getting Barger as many at-bats in baseball’s second season is a must, even when facing left-handed pitchers.

On the same day Barger hit his 20th home run Saturday in a wild win over Baltimore, he was pinch-hit for by IKF when the Orioles went with a lefty reliever.

On Wednesday, the Rays started lefty Seymour, who has been used mainly out of the bullpen.

Seymour, who was making only his fifth big-league start, induced Barger into hitting an inning-ending double play in the second.

Gausman left in limbo

Bad enough the game was delayed for roughly 25 minutes because of rain — which isn’t unusual given the time of year and how 15 prior home games in Tampa have been impacted by weather.

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Then came a sudden stomach illness to home plate umpire Brian O’Nora, who had to leave the game.
It took longer for another ump to don the gear than it did for the rain to clear.

Needless to say, Gausman wasn’t as sharp as he’d like to be when the game finally got under way. Simpson, leading off, stroked an opposite field double — on an 0-2 count, no less — and scored when Yandy Diaz singled, also to right.

Six pitches into the game and Gausman had already given up a run. But that was it. He would give the Jays six innings, while striking out six and surrendering six hits.

A thin Toronto bullpen put added pressure on Gausman to pitch as deep as possible.

Up next

Mercifully, the Jays’ final game at Steinbrenner Field outside of the Grapefruit League will be staged Thursday in the series finale (1:10 p.m. first pitch) … Chris Bassitt (11-8, 3.90 ERA) starts for the Jays against Tampa’s Shane Baz (9-12, 5.15) … Hurricane Milton forced the Rays to set up shop across the bay at the minor-league park … The Rays are in the process of being sold with a prospective group keen on building a new venue for the club which has made Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg its home since the its inception in 1998.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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