An injury to Kevin Gausman derailed the Toronto Blue Jays’ game plan in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Rogers Centre. Buoyed by the performance of their pitcher Shane McClanahan, the visitors won 6-2.
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Gausman hadn’t allowed a run in two innings when a ball hit by Wander Franco hit him in the right ankle. The 31-year-old gunner initially collapsed while trying to get the white object, but he was able to get up on his own.
Manager Charlie Montoyo preferred to withdraw his pitcher from the game as a precaution. The X-ray Gausman took did not show any signs of a fracture, the Blue Jays said.
It was nevertheless a decisive moment in this meeting. Reliever Casey Lawrence (0-1) had to go five and two-thirds innings on the mound and allowed the Rays six runs, including two on solo homers from Isaac Paredes and Franco.
Meanwhile, McClanahan (9-3) delivered a solid performance on the mound. He held the Jays to a single run, three hits and a walk, and struck out 10 batters in seven innings.
A moment for the Guerreros
To kick off this busy day in baseball, the Blue Jays invited Vladimir Guerrero Sr. to take the ceremonial pitch. Wearing his Montreal Expos jersey, the former power hitter threw the ball to his famous son, who improvised as the receiver for the occasion.
Guerrero Jr. got off to a good start in the first game by putting the Jays in the scoring from the first attack, on a single that allowed Bo Bichette to cross home plate.
During the duel, Toronto announced it had acquired left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda from the Pittsburgh Pirates for an undisclosed amount of cash.
