The Tampa Bay Rays closed out the 2015 season Sunday in a manner that accurately reflects very little that went on in the first 161 games of the year,
The Rays blasted the Toronto Blue Jays, 12-3, to go home smiling. For the Rays, it ended the season in fourth place at 80-82.
For the Blue Jays, who entered with an outside chance of finishing the season with the best record in the American League, it was a disappointing day. The Blue Jays started Mark Buehrle on one day’s rest in an effort to get him to 200 innings for the 15th straight year. He would have been only the fourth player of the last century do do so, but he recorded only two outs.
Instead, the Rays jumped on Buehrle for nine runs in the first, including the team’s first grand slam of the season from Joey Butler. Butler later had a two-run homer, as well. It was the first slam in 229 games for the Rays.
Mikie Mahtook also hit a two-run homer for the Rays. It was his ninth home run of the season.
For the Rays, Matt Moore pitched six innings to finish with his fourth straight good start after a terrible beginning to his season.
