In St. Petersburg, Florida, Jonathan Aranda hit a home run for the second game in a row, aiding Taj Bradley and the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-2 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Aranda’s two-run homer in the third inning off Yariel Rodríguez boosted the Rays to a 3-0 lead. This marked his fifth home run against the Blue Jays out of his nine career homers, having also homered in the previous game against Toronto. Bradley, with a record of 7-11, pitched five innings of one-run ball for his first win since July 25, striking out four and walking two. Prior to this victory, Bradley had faced a rough patch of 0-7 with a high 7.88 ERA over his last nine starts. Drew Rasmussen secured his first save by striking out three in two perfect innings.
Rodríguez, on the other hand, gave up four hits and three walks in four innings, managing three strikeouts. Toronto had opportunities to score in the first three innings but failed to capitalize, going 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position following a 0 for 7 performance in the same scenarios in the previous game against the Rays. Alejandro Kirk continued his hitting streak, setting a career-high of 14 games with an RBI triple in the seventh inning, marking his first career three-base hit. The Blue Jays registered their initial run through Spencer Horwitz’s infield single in the fifth inning. Conversely, Ben Rortvedt, who had only six hits in his last 63 at-bats, contributed to the Rays’ score with an RBI single in the second inning, putting them in a 1-0 lead.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays had a successful game, going 3 for 5 and maintaining a .324 batting average. Despite overrunning Yandy Díaz’s popup infield single in the seventh inning, Díaz was left stranded at first base.
Looking ahead, Rays’ right-handed pitcher Shane Baz (3-3, 3.21 ERA) is set to start on Sunday against Toronto. Baz has set a team record by pitching five or more innings and allowing three hits or fewer in five consecutive starts. The Blue Jays have yet to confirm their starting pitcher, but it is possible that former Rays left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough (5-2, 3.36 ERA) may take the mound.