Marc Topkin’s takeways from Rays’ 8-4 Sunday win over Blue Jays

On the needed end to the Font experiment, how small ball was a big help, and how Stroman was sure slow, man.

Tampa Bay Rays' Avisail Garcia, right, slides safely into third base after tagging up on a fly ball out as he beats the tag from Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brandon Drury during eighth inning baseball action in Toronto on Sunday, April 14, 2019. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Published April 14

Updated April 14

The Wilmer Font experiment needs to end. Font’s spring struggles have continued, and the Rays can’t have much faith in him. Given the chance to close out Sunday’s game at 8-2, he gave up a walk and a homer, forcing the Rays to get Jose Alvarado warmed up. Emilio Pagan has to be a better option.

The Rays did a lot of little things well Sunday. Avisail Garcia drew a 10-pitch walk to set up the first run; they scored two in the fourth without hitting the ball out of the infield on a bunt and an errant throw, infield single, walk and two ground outs; they got back-to-back, run-scoring pinch-hits in the eighth.

Jays starter Marcus Stroman is usually into messing with hitters’ timing by altering his delivery. He used a different approach Sunday that set back all the pace-of-play initiatives, taking a ridiculous amount of time between pitches. Fortunately for the Rays, he threw 91 of them in four innings and was done for the day.