Rays Outlast Blue Jays 7‑6 in 10 Innings
TORONTO (Interstat) — Ryan Vilade hit a solo home run and Jonny DeLuca drove in a key run, but it was a two-run outburst in the 10th inning that lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.
The Rays improved to 28-13, while the Blue Jays fell to 18-24. Tampa Bay won its second straight game in the four-game series, following an 8-5 victory Monday. The win also gave the Rays a 4-0 record against the Blue Jays this season, having swept a three-game series in St. Petersburg earlier in May.
Tampa Bay scored first in the opening inning. Yandy Díaz lined out, then Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero hit consecutive singles. After Ryan Vilade struck out, Jonny DeLuca doubled to right field, scoring Aranda and sending Caminero to third. Ben Williamson walked to load the bases, but Cedric Mullins grounded out to end the inning with the Rays leading 1-0.
The Rays added two more in the third. Caminero singled to center, and after Vilade flied out, DeLuca popped out. Ben Williamson doubled to left, putting runners at second and third. Cedric Mullins then singled to center, driving in both Caminero and Williamson to make it 3-0.
Both teams struggled to generate offense through the middle innings. Tampa Bay stranded a runner in the fifth when Ryan Vilade led off with a double, advanced to third on a flyout, but was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice. Toronto also threatened in the fifth when Lenyn Sosa reached on an error by third baseman Junior Caminero, and Ernie Clement singled. But a forceout and two strikeouts ended the inning.
Tampa Bay extended its lead to 4-0 in the sixth. Taylor Walls walked, moved to third on a groundout by Díaz, and scored on a walk to Aranda. However, Caminero struck out to leave the bases loaded.
The game turned dramatically in the bottom of the seventh. Toronto had managed just two hits through six innings against Rays starter Shane McClanahan, who had been sharp. But after Andrés Giménez flied out to start the inning, Ernie Clement singled to left. Daulton Varsho struck out for the second out. Then the Blue Jays erupted.
Jesús Sánchez doubled to left, driving in Clement for Toronto’s first run. Brandon Valenzuela walked, and a wild pitch by reliever Cole Sulser moved Sánchez to third and Valenzuela to second. George Springer singled to shortstop, scoring Sánchez and putting runners at the corners. Yohendrick Piñango then doubled to right, clearing the bases and tying the game at 4-4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached on a fielding error by Caminero, allowing Piñango to score from second, giving Toronto a 5-4 lead. Kazuma Okamoto struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done.
The Rays tied the game in the top of the eighth. Taylor Walls walked, but Yandy Díaz lined out and Jonathan Aranda struck out to leave him stranded. The score remained 5-5 through the ninth, with both teams failing to capitalize on scoring chances.
In the top of the 10th, with the automatic runner Cedric Mullins on second, Richie Palacios flew out, advancing Mullins to third. Taylor Walls then singled to right, scoring Mullins and giving the Rays a 6-5 lead. Yandy Díaz walked, putting Walls on second, and Jonathan Aranda hit a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Walls for a 7-5 edge.
Toronto had a chance in the bottom of the 10th. Automatic runner George Springer started on second. Yohendrick Piñango grounded out, moving Springer to third. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Springer to cut the lead to 7-6. Kazuma Okamoto walked, bringing the tying run to first, but Andrés Giménez grounded out to third to end the game.
Ian Seymour pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win, improving to 2-0. Garrett Cleavinger allowed one run in the 10th but recorded the final out to pick up his first save of the season. Braydon Fisher took the loss for Toronto, falling to 2-1.
Tampa Bay outhit Toronto 13-6. Ryan Vilade homered and doubled, scoring three runs. Jonny DeLuca doubled twice and drove in a run. Cedric Mullins had two RBIs, and Taylor Walls drove in the game-winner. For Toronto, George Springer had two hits and two RBIs, while Yohendrick Piñango doubled and drove in two.
The game lasted 3 hours, 24 minutes in front of 41,265 fans at Rogers Centre.
Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 3. Interstat’s ELO system gave Toronto a 54.30 percent probability to win. Tampa Bay was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 13 went under the over/under line of 8.
The teams conclude the series Wednesday. The Rays then return home to face the Miami Marlins, while the Blue Jays travel to Detroit for a weekend series against the Tigers.