Blue Jays' Ray the Lone Bright Spot in Extra Innings Loss

Robbie Ray was brilliant, but a series of small mistakes killed the Blue Jays in the 4-1 extra innings loss.

© Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into the Blue Jays' last homestand on July 30, things were looking good. 

The offense had pummeled Boston Red Sox pitching for 13 runs, Hyun Jin Ryu spun six shutout innings, and the Jays were set to return to Toronto after nearly two years away. 

Flash forward three weeks and the Blue Jays limp into Rogers Centre after an awful 3-6 road trip which saw them lose center fielder George Springer to a knee sprain and their playoff odds drop to a season-low 16.4%.

Yet, amidst all the doom and gloom, a glimmer of hope emerged.

"Our guy today is going to give us a chance, we know that," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said before the game. "It makes me feel good, not only to come home, but that Robbie Ray's on the mound."

The Blue Jays shining light manifested itself in Robbie Ray, the Blue Jays' ace starting pitcher. His ace status wasn't a lock to start the year, but now it's not even close—Ray's outstanding ability to string together quality outings has elevated him to one of the American League's best. Entering Friday, Ray led all AL hurlers in wins above replacement and ranks in the top three in ERA, WHIP, H/9 and K/9. 

He's also allowed three runs or fewer in 20 of 23 starts this season and has never allowed more than four runs in an outing. A true model of consistency, Ray went beyond his regular duties in the Blue Jays' 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 10 innings.

RAYzor Sharp 🔥@RobbieRay's Day: 8 IP, 11 Ks pic.twitter.com/ImdHNlXUmd

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 21, 2021

Ray record seven of his first 12 outs via strikeout to start the game, largely thanks to his biting slider, which he kept down in the dirt the entire game.

"The slider was still sharp tonight, got some really big outs with it, threw some really good curveballs," Ray said. "I think just overall, it was just a really good night."

Baseball Savant

His most tense moment occurred in the eighth inning, when a leadoff single, a sac bunt, then a steal of third base threatened the Jays one-run lead. With the infield in, Ray stayed out there. At 97 pitches, Ray forced Robbie Grossman to fly out, holding the runner at third.

He couldn't escape the inning cleanly though, as his sharp breaking ball eventually bit too hard and skipped past catcher Alejandro Kirk, allowing Zack Short to score the tying run. 

The wild pitch stung, but Ray still worked a masterful eight innings, allowing one earned run on five hits, while striking out 11 batters and walking none. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, their left-handed starter was the only bright spot in an ugly game. 

"We didn't execute," Montoyo said. "That's the bottom line. We didn't execute.

"That whole game, we had chances to score and we didn't make an adjustment at the plate. Their guy kept throwing that changeup and keeping us off balance."

Apart from a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. solo shot in the fourth, Toronto's offense couldn't manage any runs off Tigers starter Tyler Alexander and grounded into four double plays. Breyvic Valera struggled to get a bunt down in the ninth, and the Blue Jays bullpen ultimately wound up on the hook for yet another loss after Trevor Richards and Adam Cimber combined to allow three runs in the tenth inning.

Moments before the Tigers piled runs on late, left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. misfired a critical throw to the plate, allowing a run to score. Montoyo called that play one of the "little things" that led to the loss. 

Hittin' Harold Castro nails an RBI single in the top of the 10th, scoring Willi Castro and giving the @tigers the lead! #DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/3x6rr2GsqL

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) August 21, 2021

“When they sent the guy home, I thought he was going be out by a mile," Montoyo said. "Gurriel's really accurate, like one of the most accurate outfielders, and when things don’t go your way, it's funny, he makes a throw that’s not even close.”

A black cloud chased this team all across the West Coast and into Washington, D.C., but still, at home—and facing a below .500 Tigers team—Ray couldn't weather the storm. Losers of three in a row and six of their last seven, the Blue Jays were hoping for a fresh start on Friday. Instead, Rogers Centre fans witnessed one of the most painful losses of the season. 

"They were able to come through and we weren't," Ray said. "It was just one of those nights. And, like I said, we're going to come back tomorrow, and we're going to get back after it."