TORONTO (Interstat) — In a commanding offensive display to close the regular season, the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Tampa Bay Rays 13-4 on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Rogers Centre.

Catcher Alejandro Kirk powered the Blue Jays’ attack, going 3 for 5 with two home runs and a career-high six RBIs. His first-inning grand slam immediately erased an early Tampa Bay lead and set the tone for the game.

The Rays struck first in the opening frame. Richie Palacios led off with a single, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a single by Jonathan Aranda. The early advantage was short-lived.

In the bottom of the first, Toronto’s George Springer and Davis Schneider worked walks from Rays starter Ian Seymour. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then singled to score Springer, cutting the deficit. After a strikeout, Daulton Varsho singled to load the bases for Kirk, who launched a 1-0 pitch to left-center field for a grand slam, his 14th home run of the year, putting Toronto ahead 5-1.

Tampa Bay responded in the third inning, plating three runs to close the gap. Bob Seymour walked and Palacios singled, followed by an infield single from Junior Caminero to load the bases. Aranda delivered again, lining a two-run single to right field. Josh Lowe then reached on a fielder’s choice that resulted in an out at home, but Jake Mangum followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Aranda and making it a 5-4 game.

That was as close as the Rays would get. The Blue Jays added a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Andrés Giménez, then extended their lead in the fifth when Kirk struck again, blasting a two-run homer to center field, his 15th of the season, scoring Anthony Santander who had walked.

Toronto broke the game open with a five-run seventh inning. After two quick outs, Varsho singled and Kirk popped out, bringing Addison Barger to the plate. Barger connected for a two-run homer to right-center, his 21st of the year. Ernie Clement then walked, Myles Straw tripled him home, and Springer capped the rally with a two-run shot to center field, his 32nd home run of the season, making the score 13-4.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen was flawless, combining for five hitless innings of relief. Five Toronto relievers — Mason Fluharty, Brendon Little, Eric Lauer, Braydon Fisher, and Louis Varland — shut down the Rays after the fourth inning. Fluharty earned the win, improving to 5-2, while Ian Seymour took the loss for Tampa Bay, falling to 4-3.

Aranda was a bright spot for the Rays, finishing 2 for 5 with three RBIs.

The game, played in the evening before an announced crowd of 42,083, lasted 2 hours, 59 minutes. With the victory, Toronto finished its season with a record of 94-68. Tampa Bay concluded its year at 77-85. The Blue Jays won the season series against the Rays, taking this final three-game set after splitting a four-game series in Tampa Bay the previous week.