J.P. Arencibia, Toronto Blue Jays Pound Tampa Bay Rays For 17 Runs
Toronto Blue Jays fans got a glimpse of the future Saturday, and for them the future is bright. J.P. Arencibia made his major league debut behind the plate, but did the most damage when he stepped to it in the batter’s box. The Tampa Bay Rays only managed to retire Arencibia once in his five at-bats. By then the damage had already been done.
The rookie catcher began his major league career by hitting a two-run home run to left field off Rays starter James Sheilds, who dropped to 10-10 after getting touched up for eight earned runs, and six homers. He is now the third player in franchise history to homer in his first at-bat as a Jay. Arencibia is also the first Toronto player to have a four-hit game in his major league debut.
Arencibia’s MLB player proposition odds are sure to be favorable if he can continue to perform at this level.
“I’ve never seen anything like it for a team that I’ve played for or against,” said Jose Bautista, who hit his major league-best 34th. “It was just one of those days, the balls kept going out of the yard.”
Aaron Hill, Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion and Lyle Overbay all homered for the team that currently sits atop the league in home runs at 175. Lind said after the game that he had never seen a performance like the one delivered by Arencibia Saturday.
“I’ve played a lot of games and I imagine I could remember if that ever happened, but no,” Lind said.
The eight home runs were the most hit by any team since the Blue Jays hit a major league-record 10 in 1987. The team set season highs for hits and runs.
“You think they’re going to get a couple during the course of every game, that’s just how they’re built,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “I guess they made up for not getting any [in Friday's 2-1 win].”
The former Tennessee Volunteer standout finished his day with four hits, including a double and three RBIs. That line made him the first player in the modern era with four hits and two home runs.
The Rays dropped to 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for the lead in the American League East. The Yankees were the last team to hit at least eight home runs in a game back in 2007. MLB betting lines have the Yankees as the favorite to win the division.
The rookie was in disbelief after his historic day.
“I could never have imagined this, ever,” an emotional Arencibia said as he fought back tears at a post-game press conference. “I was pretty surprised because my first at-bat I really wasn’t that nervous. I was pretty even-keeled and then after that I was pretty comfortable in the box.”
Those setting MLB betting odds have the White Sox as the favorites to take the final game of the series at -130 odds.
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