TORONTO – Jose Berrios’ quest to recapture the form he showed early this season has taken longer than he would have liked.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ starting pitcher recorded a career-high six walks in Tuesday’s 4-2 series-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Berrios (8-8) started 2024 by winning his first four decisions. But he has won just four over the past three months, and has walked an unusual two more after walking four before the All-Star break.
“I was frustrated with myself for walking so many batters,” Berrios said of throwing 97 pitches. The Rays were patient, swinging at just 32 pitches.
Two of those walks resulted in runs for the visitors, with right fielder Josh Lowe scoring Randy Arozarena, who had started the second inning with a walk.
Designated hitter Brandon Lowe later hit a two-run homer in the fifth to make it 3-0, before Richie Palacios walked to start the inning.
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“(Berrios) came out with something really good,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He threw a good fastball, but then he lost the zone.
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“He had a good changeup and breaking ball, but he threw a hanger for a home run. It was a weird outing for him.”
The last time Berrios allowed six walks was on Aug. 9, 2018, when he was with the Minnesota Twins.
Berrios said he looked to his own footage for inspiration early this season.
He denied that the 10-day rest between starts was a factor, instead blaming himself for trying too hard to be perfect by pitching from outside the plate.
The Blue Jays (45-55) have lost their third of four starts since the All-Star break, while the Rays (51-50) have won six of their past nine.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Justin Turner hit back-to-back home runs off reliever Manuel Rodriguez to start the sixth.
“It’s fun to watch him play right now,” Schneider said of Guerrero.
“He’s a threat on every pitch.”
It was Guerrero’s team-leading 17th home run and fourth in his last five games. Turner went 3-for-4.
But the home team’s batting was quiet, with nine straight outs over the final three innings in front of 38,575 fans at Rogers Centre.
Berrios walked three batters in the third to load the bases, but Blue Jays center fielder Dalton Bashaw leaped over the wall to catch a ball that Lowe hit for a center field flyout.
Sean Armstrong started the game on the mound for the Rays. He pitched two innings, giving up a single and a walk but striking out four.
Tyler Alexander (3-3) pitched three scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing three hits. Pete Fairbanks pitched the ninth for his 19th save.
The Rays stole second base three times, using catcher Alejandro Kirk.
In the seventh, Taylor Walls stole second after getting a walk. He advanced to third on Palacios’ infield single, but Guerrero couldn’t field it cleanly.
Walls then scored when Isaac Paredes turned a double play.
On deck
Yariel Rodriguez (1-3) will start for the Blue Jays in the middle of a three-game set against Tampa on Wednesday. The Rays will face right-hander Zach Eflin (5-7).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 23, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
