Blue Jays hold players-only meeting following series loss to Rays

The slumping Toronto Blue Jays held a players-only meeting following their 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said postgame that the players' decision to call the meeting "beat me to it," according to Sportsnet's Hazel Mae.

Third baseman Matt Chapman wouldn't reveal what the players discussed in the meeting but admitted it's on them to get things back on track.

"We're all grown men here. It's up to us," Chapman said, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. "We're the ones on the field. Our coaches can't hold our hands. We have to go out there and find ways to win games."

The Blue Jays dropped three of four games at Tropicana Field to fall to 26-25 on the season and sit in the basement of the AL East.

Toronto committed one error and allowed the Rays to steal seven bases in seven attempts. Right-hander Alek Manoah struggled again, allowing four earned runs on three hits and five walks across three innings to fall to 1-5 on the season.

"We were punched right in the face the last 10 days or so," Schneider said, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. "You've got to understand that, and you've got to make adjustments, and you've got to have the right attitude, and you've got to have the right focus going forward."

Toronto has struggled mightily against teams within its own division, losing 13 of the past 15 games against AL East opponents.

"Yes, it's a tough division," Schneider said. "Yes, that's a good team. We're still a good team, too. So, little things today. You outhit the opponent again. You don't control the running game. You're careless with the baseball. Can't happen. Starting tomorrow, it's a new series, and hopefully, those things are taken care of."

The Blue Jays head to Minnesota for a three-game series this weekend against the Twins at Target Field.