Field Level Media
26 May 2023, 01:49 GMT+10
Zach Eflin logged seven strong innings to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Eflin (7-1) allowed just one run on six hits to pick up his third consecutive win. He walked two and did not record a strikeout.
Randy Arozarena had two hits and two RBIs for Tampa Bay, which won three games in the series to improve to 5-2 during its current 10-game homestand.
Luke Raley, Taylor Walls and Wander Franco each stole two bases while Arozarena had one as the Rays matched a season high with seven steals.
Alejandro Kirk recorded three hits and Brandon Belt went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks for Toronto, which has lost seven of its last eight games.
Belt got the Blue Jays on the board in the top of the first inning after lining a single to left field to plate Daulton Varsho.
Tampa Bay wasted no time pulling ahead, going up 2-1 in the home half of the first. Franco tripled and scored on a base hit by Arozarena, who later came home on a fielder's choice by Harold Ramirez.
Josh Lowe upped the Rays' lead to 3-1 in the second inning with an RBI double.
Despite not tallying a hit in the third inning, Tampa Bay still managed to tack on two more runs. Walls and Raley each drew walks and executing a double steal, with a poor throw to third from catcher Kirk allowing Walls to score. Manuel Margot's groundout then brought home Raley and made it 5-1.
Toronto starter Alek Manoah (1-5) was pulled at the start of the fourth after allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits in three innings. He walked five and struck out six.
Trevor Richards held the Rays at bay with three hitless innings of relief, but Tampa Bay added an insurance run in the seventh when Arozarena shot an RBI single up the middle.
After the Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, Bo Bichette's bases-loaded walk and Ernie Clement's sacrifice fly pulled Toronto within 6-3. However, Colin Poche got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground out to notch his first save.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Florida Statesman news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Florida Statesman.
More InformationPARIS, France: France is taking stronger steps to reduce smoking. A new health rule announced on Saturday will soon ban smoking in...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Elon Musk's success has been built on government subsidies. Without...
EVERGLADES, Florida: Over the weekend, a diverse coalition of environmental activists, Native American leaders, and residents gathered...
BEIJING, China: China's national soccer team may struggle to stir excitement, but its humanoid robots are drawing cheers — and not...
]LONDON, U.K.: A World Health Organization (WHO) expert group investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic released its final...
DOVER, Delaware: California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken legal aim at Fox News, accusing the network of deliberately distorting...
KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan, long associated with war and instability, is quietly trying to rebrand itself as a destination for...
SANTA CLARA, California: Executives at Nvidia have quietly been cashing in on the AI frenzy. According to a report by the Financial...
NEW YORK, New York - Global stock indices closed with divergent performances on Tuesday, as investors weighed corporate earnings, central...
TORONTO, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late on June 29 that trade negotiations with the U.S. have recommenced...
Vancouver, Canada: A high-stakes legal showdown is brewing in the world of athleisure. Lululemon, the Canadian brand known for its...
LONDON, U.K.: British oil giant Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire rival oil company BP. The Wall Street Journal...