2022 Game One-Hundred-Four: Rays 3, Blue Jays 2

 

what if the Trop . . .

. . . were æsthetic? 

Ah, phooey: a pretty good job by Our Friend Yusei Kikuchi Whom We Support (two runs on three hits and a walk in four innings), a solid effort from the bullpen (just Cimber's one run to go with scoreless work from Thorton, Mayza, Phelps, and Richards), a homer and an RBI double from Téo, but nothing more, and a 3-2 loss. It would have been pretty sweet to get the two-game sweep, and maybe even knock the Rays out of that last playoff spot for a minute or two, but no, there they are, a game behind the Mariners, and three behind the Blue Jays. And so on to Minnesota, where we will be joined by either some or all of our trade deadline acquisitions, for a four-game set you'd sure like to win three of. In true AL Central-leading fashion, the AL Central-leading Twins are a pretty good team having a pretty good year; thus far, they've played their softer schedule three games worse than the Blue Jays have played theirs, but there is lots to like about these Twins, not least of all the wonderful Byron Buxton. And it is always a treat, for me anyway, to watch games played at that lovely ballpark, one of my favourites. Do we miss the pines? Surely; and yet I am not about to complain about a living wall.  

KS