Jays lose series opener to the Rays

Jays v Rays. Game one of three. Big test for the Jays tonight, start of two series against division rivals. How will the rookies fare? Tonight Rasmus back in the lineup and J. Happ starting his first for the Jays. The tough part is that it is Tampa and also Shields pitching. The other bad news is that McGowan will be having yet more surgery. How much longer can he do this or will it be the end of his career? Hutchison also going under the knife for Tommy John surgery which means we will not see him again until 2014 season. Again the obvious questions re the Jays coaching staff. Is there a problem with their methods? I would imagine that Rogers have already asked the question, they are not going to keep on paying out big $ to have so many of their investments sitting out season after season. Lineups: Jays: Davis, Rasmus, Encarnacion, Escobar, Cooper, Sierra, Johnson, Mathis, Hechavarria and Happ pitching. Rays: Jennings, Upton, Zobrist, Longoria, Keppinger, Roberts, Rodriguez, Lobaton, Johnson, and Shields pitching. Longoria back in the lineup after DL. Why could they now wait until after this series? Jays get no breaks. Top 1st: Where is everybody ? Empty stadium. Must be rough to play in an empty stadium at home. The good is that I guess everyone can have a front row seat. Davis leading off, 2-0 pops it up to Zobrist in right, one down for Rasmus, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Encarnacion. 2-1 count, grounds to Roberts at third to end the inning. Bottom 1st: Jennings, 2-2 count, fly ball to Sierra in right. One down for Upton. 2-2 count, takes strike three. Two down for Zobrist. 2-2 count, takes strike three looking. Great start for Happ. Top 2nd: Escobar, 2-2 count, pops it up to shallow right and Rodriguez makes nice over the shoulder catch. One down for Cooper, DH tonight with Edwin playing at first. Lines it hard but right at Rodriguez at second to rob Cooper of a base hit. Two down for Sierra, grounds to third long throw just gets Sierra, he has speed. Shields rolling along here. Bottom 2nd: Longoria leading off, grounds back up the middle great stop by Happ and throw to Edwin, great reflexes, one down for Keppinger, 2-2 count, high pop up to Edwin for the second out. Roberts, full count, this is trouble pops it up to right and ball drops, Roberts to second. Rodriguez, loops it into shallow right and here comes Roberts to score 1-0 Rays. Lobaton, lines it off the glove of Hechavarria into left. Rodriguez to third. Lobaton at second. Johnson, two in scoring position two down. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Top 3rd: Johnson, hitting at the bottom in number eight. Lines this one very hard to right centre but Zobrist makes the out. One down for Mathis. 2-2 count, pops it up to Lobaton. Two down for Hechavarria 2-1 count, singles back up the middle, nice hit first major league hit. There goes the no hitter for Shields . Davis, two down one on. 2-2 count, grounds to short flip to second to get Hechavarria to end the inning. Bottom 3rd: Jennings, 2-2 count, looper into shallow centre, one on for Upton, lines it to right and Jays get a break as it bounces over the wall, ground rule double, Jennings has to hold at third, he would have scored on that. Double for Upton, Zobrist, two in scoring position nobody out 3-0 count, outside ball four, bases loaded for Longoria, ouch, nowhere to put him either.2-1 count, Happ starting to lose the zone here. This will get one, fly ball to right and Sierra makes the catch up against the wall, Jennings tags and scores 2-0 Rays. Keppinger with runners at the corners. 1-2 count, fly ball to Davis in left this will score Upton, 3-0 Rays. Roberts, with Zobrist still at first. 3-1 count, pops it up to right Sierra makes the out. Top 4th: Rasmus leading off. Full count, sayonara, uppercut by Colby and this one is out of here in right centre, home run to Rasmus, welcome back we missed you Colby. 3-1 Rays. Encarnacion, 1-2 count, goes around and strikes out. One down for Escobar, grounds to short, throw to first, two down for Cooper. High fly ball to Upton in center for the out but Jays get one back. Bottom 4th: Rodriguez leading off. Grounds to Hechavarria, throw to Edwin one down for Lobaton. 0-2 count, fly ball to Davis in left for the out. Johnson with two down, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Nice inning for Happ, he works very quickly as does Shields. Top 5th: Sierra leading off, Walton getting the bullpen working. Full count, fouls it off his foot after fouling it off his shin, he is in real pain this time, here comes the trainer. Fly ball to Upton for the out. One down for Johnson, full count, drives it the opposite field but for the out in left, two down. Mathis, 2-1 count pops it up to right for Zobrist to make the out in shallow right. Jays having problems solving Shields tonight. Bottom 5th: Top of the order Jennings, lines first pitch into the left field corner, stand up double to lead off. Brandon Lyon working in the bullpen. Upton, full count, strikes out swinging, one down. Zobrist, this will do it lines it into right, here comes Jennings to score 4-1 Rays. Zobrist at second for Longoria. That is it for Happ tonight. Not a bad outing, just needed some run support. Lyon now pitching. Longoria, full count, strikes out swinging, two down for Keppinger. Chad Jenkins getting loose in the bullpen. Grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin for third out. Top 6th: Hechavarria, full count, 75 pitches for Shields. Looked like ball four but this is Shields and he gets the call strike out, that was tough call for Hechavarria. Davis, bounces to short, throw to first, two down for Rasmus, another full count, outside ball four. One on two down for Encarnacion, hitless tonight. 0-2 count, third full count, home run swing to left but dies at the wall. Almost Edwin. Pitch count 93 for Shields. Bottom 6th: Chad Jenkins now pitching, major league debut. Roberts, 2-2 count strikes out swinging. One down for Rodriguez, 2-2 count, lines it hard back up the middle but Jenkins makes a great play to catch this, great reflex play, two down. Lobaton, pops it up and Escobar makes nice grab in shallow left centre. Good inning by young Jenkins. Top 7th: Escobar leading off. 2-2 count, hits him. One on for Cooper, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging at ball way outside. One down for Sierra. McGhee warming up in bullpen, no need grounds to short, over to second on to first inning ending double play ball. Bottom 7th: Johnson, pulls it past a diving Johnson into shallow right. Leadoff single. Jennings, bunting and good, Jenkins throw to first to get Jennings as Johnson to second. One down for Upton, 0-2 count, fly ball to Sierra, throw keeps Johnson at second. Two down. Zobrist, 2-2 count, takes strike three. Two scoreless innings for Jenkins. Very nice. Top 8th: Johnson, leading off. Strikes out swinging. One down for Mathis, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Hechavarria, 2-0 count, grounds to third, throw to first. Three up and down. No pinch hitters John? Bottom 8th: Longoria, singles to centre, one on for Keppinger, Sam Fuld pinch runner for Longoria. Pena pinch hitter for Keppinger. Maddon takes these games seriously. 2-1 count, fly ball to Davis in left for the out. Roberts, one on one down. 0-2 count, grounds to Encarnacion, throw to second back to first and mix-up with Jenkins not giving Edwin the room and runner safe. Two down. Rodriguez 0-2 count, lines it to Rasmus for third out, Three scoreless innings for Jenkins, excellent job. This bullpen is looking stronger by the day. When will the hitters be the same? Lind rehabbing well, Lawrie day to day. Bautista the big enigma and another MRI tomorrow which is not good. Wrist injuries always tough healing. We may not see Jose this season. Top 9th: Last chance for the Jays. Rodney pitching. Davis leading off. 2-2 count, strikes out, one down for Rasmus, singles the opposite way into left. Two hit night for Colby. Encarnacion 0-2 count, umpire warns Rodney for wiping hands on the ball, wild pitch and Rasmus to second, lines it hard down the line but Roberts makes great stop at third and throw to first to get Edwin. Two down. Escobar, 2-2 count, bounces to first, takes it himself for the out. Jays lose the opener to the Rays 4-1. The good: Rasmus two hit night including the home run plus a walk. He is doing his bit but not so much the others. The bullpen Chad Jenkins three innings 41 pitches 30 strikes. Excellent outing. Yankees and Boston lose tonight. Baltimore still in extra innings. The not so good: Only three hits for Jays.