Alek Manoah, the Blue Jays man, scores a big bounce back win over Rays

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There was no panic among the Blue Jays heading into what felt like a significant Saturday date at trippy Tropicana Field.

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However, things got frustrating as the twists and turns of the American League wildcard race went in a direction they would have preferred to avoid.

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Enter the beast that is Alek Manoah, whose competitiveness is matched only by his talent and continued rise as one of the top pitchers in the AL.

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The burly right-hander delivered seven innings of shutout ball – dominating at times and crunching when it needed to in others – as the Jays clinched a 3-1 win over their troublesome nemesis, the Tampa Bay Rays.

“He’s a bulldog, man,” said second baseman Whit Merrifield, whose triple homer in the seventh inning powered the Jays’ offense. “He gets the ball when the team needs it. That was a big game for us. This place gave us problems this year.

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“Big Puma threw a big game for us.”

As has been the case throughout the season – a campaign that has now reached 30 starts – Manoah is the man the team leans on to restore order when it’s most needed.

And in what felt like a playoff preview contest, Manoah was money.

“I think every game is hugely important right now,” Manoah said of how much the post-season smell is cheering him on. “Right now, every game feels like a playoff game. There is a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks.”

The prospect of Manoah setting up games of elevated importance must be enticing for the Jays, especially given that his teammates appear to be feeding on his efforts. On Saturday, he dealt with an outing in which he threw a season-high 113 pitches and hit eight Rays batters while limiting the Rays to four hits.

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In his last seven starts, Manoah has conceded just six earned runs over a 48-inning span. He has now lowered his ERA to 2.31 while improving his record to 15-7.

The 2022 All-Star showed just the kind of effort the Jays needed against a Rays team that won the first two games of this four-game set. The win sparked a three-game losing streak and with 10 games remaining in the season, allowed the Jays to reclaim first place in the wildcard spot, a game ahead of the Rays.

“He’s setting up a really special year for a young man and tonight was just another example of one of the best pitchers in the game,” said manager John Schneider.

“I think he’s proven where he’s ready for the big games. He’s ready for bit spots and challenges like this.”

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While offense took center stage in a standout pitching duel between Manoah and the Rays Drew Rasmussen, a suddenly heating Merrifield broke through for the Jays in the seventh inning.

As for Manoah, he has now thrown seven consecutive quality starts and 24 overall, the most by a jay since Ricky Romero dished out 25 in 2011. In these last seven starts, his ERA is just under 1.13.

And as we’ve seen throughout his fledgling career, he holds on to the Rays when he needs to, keeping the Rays in goal position at 0-5 with runners on Saturday.

“These guys fought all year and picked me up,” Manoah said. “It’s my job to go out there and pick her up when I can.”

TROP FAULTS

With the Jays still locked in a game-at-a-time approach, there’s no denying the urgency of Saturday’s game – and it starts with the crazy things that happen so regularly in the trop.

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The Jays are only 3-5 at the quirky Hallenstadion and have been frustrated at how they’ve been missing out on games here over the years.

“I don’t think we’re the only team that comes in here or goes out here and says ‘WTF’,” said Schneider. “It’s something to work on as best you can.”

The Jays, of course, struggled to do so against a Rays team that won the season series with victories here on Thursday and Friday, thus holding the tiebreak should the teams be suspended at the end of the regular season.

It’s always worth gaining home field advantage, but especially when it rules out a return here for a best-of-three wildcard duel two weeks later.

“It’s definitely an interesting place to play,” said Jay’s third baseman Matt Chapman. “It’s just different in every way and takes some adjustment and getting used to.”

ROMANO TO THE RESCUE

Closer Jordan Romano was called on to a save of four and got the job for the season No. 35, putting him in solo possession when he was eighth in a season from a Jays relive.

It was a major setback for Romano, who had suffered botched saves in each of his previous two appearances. The Markham, Ont. native also got back on track in style, hitting three to secure the win.