Official logo of Major League Baseball. KRT. 1999.
At least one thing is falling in favour of the Toronto Blue Jays these days.
Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday that it has denied the Tampa Bay Rays protest of Saturday's 5-4 victory by Toronto at Rogers Centre, thereby assuring the Blue Jays will be able to continue to apply the valuable victory in the American League East standing.
MLB did not provide any reasons for its decision.
Tampa manager Joe Maddon informed the umpires during Saturday's game that he was playing it under protest following a call made in the fourth inning by home plate umpire Bill Welke when he allowed a challenge of a play to be made by Toronto manager John Gibbons.
Maddon felt that that since Toronto pitcher Mark Buehrle was already set on the mound and Tampa hitter Yunel Escobar had stepped into the batter's box before Gibbons emerged from the dugout to issue the challenge that it should have been disallowed because the next play had already started.
In other news, the Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that they have recalled outfielder Kevin Pillar from their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo and designated outfielder Nolan Reimold for assignment.
Pillar, who appeared in 26 games for the Blue Jays earlier this season, has been hitting up a storm with the Bisons, ranking in the top five of many of the lnternational League's offensive categories, including first in doubles (39), third in batting average (.323) and extra-base hits (52) and fifth in slugging percentage (.509) and stolen bases (27).
Pillar's arrival is timely as Colby Rasmus, who was supposed to start in centrefield for Tuesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox took ill before the game and was a late scratch.
As a result, Pillar will get the start in centre and bat eighth in the lineup.