Robbie Ray fans 13; Bo Bichette drives in five as Blue Jays beat Rays 6-3
Bo Bichette knocked in five runs, and starter Robbie Ray struck out 13 to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-3 win in the rubber match against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
Bichette slammed a three-run homer in the first inning to provide the cushion Ray required to pitch Toronto (82-64) to its second win in the three-game set against the Rays (90-56), who have the best record in the American League.
The win was the Blue Jays 16th in their last 19 outings and allowed them to keep pace in the AL wild-card race.
Ray (12-5) hasn't lost since a 7-4 defeat to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 21. That was 10 starts ago.
The Toronto lefty has been particularly powerful in his last six outings, striking out a total of 66 opponents. He allowed only four hits in his seven innings of work on Wednesday and did not walk a Tampa Bay batter.
His lone blemish was a full-count slider that Rays catcher Mike Zunino knocked over the left-field fence to lead off the fifth inning.
Bichette already had provided his teammates with a 4-0 lead by the time Zunino belted his 30th homer of the season.
After Ray struck out two in a one-two-three first inning, Blue Jays infielder Marcus Semien was issued a one-out walk from Tampa Bay starter Michael Wacha (3-5). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then doubled to left. Bichette knocked them in with a homer to left -- his 25th of the season.
In the third inning, a Semien single to left and a Guerrero double to left centre put runners, once again, on second and third. Semien scored on Bichette's sacrifice fly to right.
Bichette's infield bouncer up the middle for a hit scored designated hitter George Springer in the fifth inning. Springer singled to centre with one out and exhibited good hustle going from first to third on a Wacha wild pitch with Guerrero at the plate.
The big offensive day for Bichette came on Roberto Clemente Day, which celebrates the late Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Hall of Famer. On Tuesday, it was revealed that the 23-year-old Bichette was the Blue Jays nominee for the Clemente Award, given annually to the player who "best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field."
Guerrero, who reached base for a third time with a walk in the fifth, scored on Teoscar Hernandez's single to centre.
Joakim Soria relieved Ray to start the eighth. He got into trouble with a lead-off single to Taylor Walls and a two-run Brett Phillips to centre field.
But Soria settled down to finish the inning with a three-run advantage, and Jordan Romano finished off Tampa Bay with his 18th save in a one-two-three ninth inning.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
'$6.66 per day': Advocacy groups disheartened by funding in budget for disability benefit
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.