ST. PETERSBURG (SNN-TV) – The Tampa Bay Rays entered last night with the second-fewest runs allowed in the majors at 170, but left the Trop having gave up its most since August of 2021.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had six RBI and the Blue Jays stopped a five-game losing streak with a 20-1 rout of Tampa Bay last night, scoring their last 10 runs off position players.
Guerrero put Toronto ahead with an RBI single off Taj Bradley in the first, had a run-scoring single in the fifth that opened a 10-0 lead and hit a 423-foot grand slam in a nine-run ninth against outfielder Luke Raley. Guerrero is hitting .300 with eight homers and 33 RBI. His six RBI were one shy of his career high. All 12 Toronto batters in the game had hits, and the Blue Jays finished with 27 hits — their most since getting 29 against Boston last July.
Nonetheless, the Rays look to bounce back tonight against Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi, with Shane McClanahan opposite him. McClanahan is looking to become the major’s first eight-game winner. First pitch is set for 6:40pm.