Tampa Bay Ray Cedric Mullins (31) scores a run after a walk while the bases were loaded as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) looks on during sixth inning action in Toronto on Wednesday.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Victor Mesa Jr. had two RBI singles as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday for their third-straight win.
Chandler Simpson’s sacrifice fly in the sixth gave Tampa Bay (59-42) its first lead of the game, with Mesa tacking on a run in the next at bat. Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson drew a bases-loaded walk for the Rays’ third run of the sixth.
Mesa’s RBI single in the second had tied it 1-1 for the American League East-leading Rays.
Griffin Jax (6-7) pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and a walk, but striking out five. Relievers Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker preserved the win.
Alejandro Kirk’s third home run of the season gave Toronto (46-56) a glimmer of hope in the seventh inning before it dropped its fourth straight. George Springer’s ground out scored Nathan Lukes for a 1-0 lead in the first.
Braydon Fisher gave up a run in 1 1/3 innings as the Blue Jays’ opener. Spencer Miles followed with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, before Jeff Hoffman (5-7) gave up three unearned runs in 2/3 of an inning. Mason Fluharty completed the sixth for Hoffman before Tyler Rogers, Brendon Little and Louis Varland each had a scoreless inning.
Takeaways
Rays: Jax was effective for Tampa Bay, keeping Toronto off the scoreboard aside from Springer’s ground-out RBI. He dropped his earned-run average from 4.08 to 3.89 over the course of the game. It also allowed the Rays to rest most of their bullpen with one game left at Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays: Toronto’s anemic offence continued to be an issue as it managed only four hits. The Blue Jays have a total of six runs in their past five games. Their 402 runs are the fewest in all of Major League Baseball this season.
Jeff Hoffman (front) of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts in a break in play against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning of their game at Rogers Centre on Wednesday in Toronto.Mark Blinch/Getty Images
Key moment
Daulton Varsho was charged with a fielding error when Yandy Diaz’s long fly ball to right-centre field went in and out of the Toronto outfielder’s glove. The surprising gaffe by the former Gold Glove winner allowed Diaz to reach second, the first Rays runner on base in the sixth and the start of their rally in the inning.
Key stat
Kirk’s home run was Toronto’s first since July 17 when George Springer, Brandon Valenzuela and Luis Urias all had dingers in a 12-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Up next
Shane Bieber (1-1) takes the mound Thursday as Toronto closes out its four-game series against Tampa Bays. Ian Seymour (6-2) gets the start for the Rays.