They did, eventually. Tampa Bay jumped out with 2 runs in the first and blew the game open with a 5-run 4th, but Toronto answered with a run in the 4th, 4 more in the 5th, and 1 in the 6th to pull within a run. It wasn't enough. The Rays hung on, 7-6.
Tampa Bay finished with 8 hits and an error, Toronto with 9 hits and a clean glove behind Scherzer, and neither bullpen made it out of this one unscathed.
The final score papers over how ragged the middle innings got. A 5-run frame from the Rays and a 4-run answer from the Blue Jays a inning later means both starters left this one with plenty to clean up, no matter what the box score says about the decision.
The two clubs split their two-game window heading into this one, and Wednesday's result evens it back up at a game apiece. Toronto is now on a run of 3 wins in 5 games with the loss attached to the end of it, while Tampa Bay's win snapped a stretch that had them at 2-3 over their last 5, including a blowout loss to Baltimore in that stretch.
Toronto's pitching staff is still waiting on reinforcements, with Trey Yesavage and Jameson Taillon both doing flat-ground work as they build back, and Spencer Arrighetti eyeing an activation this week. Tampa Bay has its own list to manage in relief, with Griffin Jax, Cole Sulser, Manuel Rodriguez and Edwin Uceta all currently unavailable. Neither bullpen picture is getting easier before the next meeting between these two.