ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. \u2014 Simply put, the Blue Jays don\u2019t have much going on offensively.<\/p>\n
That might change relatively soon \u2014 it should, in fact. But in the meantime, games like this are going to happen more often than they might like.<\/p>\n
Back at the newly restored but still exasperating Tropicana Field for the first time since 2024, the Blue Jays scored just once on the way to a 5-1 loss that brings their season record to 16-19.<\/p>\n
Despite a new-look batting order that featured Daulton Varsho<\/a> at designated hitter for the first time this season and Yohendrick Pi\u00f1ango<\/a> in the leadoff spot for the second day in a row, the Blue Jays had trouble making loud contact against starter Nick Martinez and the four relievers who followed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need a timely hit if you\u2019re not going to slug,\u201d manager John Schneider said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t get that. They obviously did \u2014 and that was the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Pi\u00f1ango contributed three hits while No. 2 hitter Kazuma Okamoto<\/a> walked and singled to continue his hot streak, but otherwise the visiting lineup stayed quiet. A ninth-inning rally loaded the bases and forced the Rays to bring in closer Bryan Baker, but it all added up to just one extra-base hit and one run on ten hits.<\/p>\n A day after being removed from the game due to an at-bat he later described as \u201ctrash,\u201d catcher Tyler Heineman was on the bench. Since Schneider removed him late Sunday, it was no surprise to see Brandon Valenzuela get the start while Heineman prepared for his next start.<\/p>\n Behind the scenes, Alejandro Kirk<\/a>\u2019s expected to start swinging a bat soon, a significant step as he works his way back from a fracture in his left thumb. In the meantime, Valenzuela contributed a hit while catching a would-be base stealer.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, George Springer<\/a> continues making progress after fouling a ball off his broken left toe Saturday. In fact, he stepped out onto the field to pinch hit in the ninth inning before a double play erased a baserunner and led Schneider to hold Springer back a little longer.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully he\u2019s good tomorrow,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cHe should be.\u201d<\/p>\n