Dustin McGowan didn’t have one of his better outings past Thursday night. The right-hander was allowed only four and a half innings against Tampa Bay.
Toronto continued to have offensive woes, as they were able to produce only three runs in the 5-3 loss to the Rays.
Tampa Bay scored a run in the third and fourth innings off McGowan, but still the right-hander went into the fifth with a 3-2 lead.
In the fifth, however, the Long County native gave up a single and a pair of walks. With the bases loaded, Ray rookie Evan Longoria hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in the tying run.
The fifth Tampa batter, Eric Hinske hit a ground ball toward Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill, who gathered it up and tossed it to shortstop, David Eckstein. But the throw was high, and the shortstop had to come off the bag to make the catch, preventing the double play and sending in two more runs.
In the game, the local pitcher faced 22 batters, throwing 87 pitches with 43 strikes. He struck out 6 Rays, but allowed a season-high 7 walks.
McGowan allowed 4 hits, giving up 4 earned runs in four-plus innings, and now has a 4.18 ERA.
For the year, the hometown hurler has had 5 starts with 1 win, 2 losses, and 2 no-decisions. He has pitched 28 innings, striking out 23 and walking 16. He has allowed 14 runs and 13 earned runs, and has given up 32 hits.
The loss was Toronto’s fourth in a row, and over the last 10 games have earned a 3-7 record. They now sit in the cellar of the American League East with a 10-13 record behind Boston (15-9), Baltimore (13-9), New York (12-11), and Tampa Bay (11-11).
Over the four-game losing streak, Toronto has been out scored 11-21, with the offense putting up only 2.75 per game, while the pitchers have given up 5.25.
McGowan should be back on the mound Wednesday, when he and the Blue Jays will face the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Toronto continued to have offensive woes, as they were able to produce only three runs in the 5-3 loss to the Rays.
Tampa Bay scored a run in the third and fourth innings off McGowan, but still the right-hander went into the fifth with a 3-2 lead.
In the fifth, however, the Long County native gave up a single and a pair of walks. With the bases loaded, Ray rookie Evan Longoria hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in the tying run.
The fifth Tampa batter, Eric Hinske hit a ground ball toward Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill, who gathered it up and tossed it to shortstop, David Eckstein. But the throw was high, and the shortstop had to come off the bag to make the catch, preventing the double play and sending in two more runs.
In the game, the local pitcher faced 22 batters, throwing 87 pitches with 43 strikes. He struck out 6 Rays, but allowed a season-high 7 walks.
McGowan allowed 4 hits, giving up 4 earned runs in four-plus innings, and now has a 4.18 ERA.
For the year, the hometown hurler has had 5 starts with 1 win, 2 losses, and 2 no-decisions. He has pitched 28 innings, striking out 23 and walking 16. He has allowed 14 runs and 13 earned runs, and has given up 32 hits.
The loss was Toronto’s fourth in a row, and over the last 10 games have earned a 3-7 record. They now sit in the cellar of the American League East with a 10-13 record behind Boston (15-9), Baltimore (13-9), New York (12-11), and Tampa Bay (11-11).
Over the four-game losing streak, Toronto has been out scored 11-21, with the offense putting up only 2.75 per game, while the pitchers have given up 5.25.
McGowan should be back on the mound Wednesday, when he and the Blue Jays will face the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.