TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays had a disastrous weekend with their third straight loss on Sunday.
A day after their popular first-team coach Mark (Bud) Budzinski and his wife Monica lost the eldest of three children, 17-year-old daughter Julia, to a sudden and unexpected death, the Blue Jays fell 7-3 against the Tampa. Bay Rays before 35,757 at Rogers Center.
On Saturday, 48-year-old Budzinski left the Blue Jays in the third inning of the second game of the team’s double game against the Rays after hearing the tragic news.
The Blue Jays issued a statement, saying Budzinski would take some time away from the team to mourn with his family. There was also a moment of silence for Julia before the match, as players and coaches from both teams stood in front of their respective dugouts.
The emotional damage was evident in the words and body language of the Blue Jays.
“It breaks my heart for Bud,” Toronto coach Charlie Montoyo said in a voice trembling with tenderness. “There are good men and great men. He’s a great man. He’s a special person. His family is great. The only thing I can share about what happened is that he left a note for the team. He did. while it was happening. a tragedy, and that tells you all about it. “
The Blue Jays responded, with many players writing their coach in support. The effervescence was felt throughout the league, with Boston Red Sox coach Alex Cora and his Detroit Tigers counterpart AJ Hinch offering his sympathy. Hinch was a roommate in Budzinski’s minor league.
“He’s someone I consider a dear friend,” Hinch said. “Her daughter is the same age as my daughters.”
“I just found out that her daughter died in an accident,” Cora said. “It puts everything in perspective.”
Montoya also left the night of the double head to be with Budzinski until he found a flight to Richmond, Virginia. Montoya returned to the match later.
Blue Jays bullpen receiver Luis Hurtado coached first baseman in Budzinski’s absence.
The management of the Blue Jays contemplated the possibility of not playing on Sunday.
“I wasn’t aware of that,” Toronto head coach Ross Stripling said (4-3). “I think Bud would have wanted us to play, try to win the series. But that’s not how it developed.”
The Blue Jays (44-36) lost their third straight game to the Rays (43-36) to leave the five-game set 3-2 and split their eight-game week into 4-4.
The Blue Jays were tied 1-1 in four innings after leaving eight runners at base, including six stranded in the scorer position.
In the fifth inning, the Rays scored six times. Stripling gave a double to Taylor Walls, who scored a single from Yandy Diaz on the right field.
Harold Ramirez drilled a two-run shot into the right field to end Stripling Day. He lasted 4 ⅔ innings, conceding four runs (three wins) in seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Stripling had not allowed more than two runs in five consecutive outings.
Toronto reliever Trent Thornton replaced Stripling and was greeted with a solo homer from Ji-Man Choi and a two-run explosion in midfield immediately two batters later in Arozarena.
The Rays enjoyed a 14-hit offensive outing with Choi leading the way with three hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. he also enjoyed a three-hit tour.
Tampa Bay starter Shane Baz (1-1) was cleared of jams in the first four innings, leaving the bases loaded in the first and fourth blocks.
GAUSMAN UPDATE: The Blue Jays will be waiting to see how Kevin Gausman’s ankle bruise feels after the club’s charter flight to California before determining whether he will make his next scheduled outing on Thursday. Gausman felt some stiffness and pain a day after grabbing a 100-mile-per-hour line from his right ankle, forcing him to drop the Blue Jays ’double-sided first goal in Saturday’s second inning.
Next, the Blue Jays travel to the West Coast to open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics, followed by a set of four against the Seattle Mariners. Alek Manoah (9-2) will start the Blue Jays on Monday. Left Cole Irvin (2-6) will take the mound for Athletics. The series ’opening in Oakland will mark the midpoint of their Blue Jays calendar, their 81st outing.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 3, 2022.