Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed just one hit in eight innings of work as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Gausman (8-8) was throwing a no-hitter until Taylor Walls led off the sixth inning with a single. But Walls’ hit didn’t do much for Tampa Bay, as Randy Arozarena grounded into a double play to erase Walls.
The only other Tampa Bay runners to reach base before the ninth inning were Arozarena, who walked in the first, and Isaac Paredes, who was hit by a pitch in the first.
Gausman struck out 10 and walked only one while throwing 103 pitches.
Jordan Romano relieved Gausman and surrendered a solo home run to Walls in the ninth before recording his 25th save of the season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the catalyst for Toronto’s offense. He doubled in the first inning and came around to score on a single by Bo Bichette. Guerrero finished 2-for-4 on the night and also stole a base. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also had two hits for the Blue Jays.
Teoscar Hernandez entered Tuesday’s game with 18 home runs and 39 RBIs in 70 career games against the Rays. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.
Toronto added two insurance runs in the ninth inning when Danny Jansen hit a two-run bloop single to shallow center.
The Blue Jays have won 12 of 15 games since John Schneider took over as the interim manager and are 8-2 since the All-Star break.
Although he was overshadowed by Gausman, Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen (6-4) had a strong outing. He threw 97 pitches in six innings while allowing one run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Brooks Raley and Jason Adam each provided an inning of scoreless relief for the Rays before Shawn Armstrong surrendered the two runs in the ninth.
Tampa Bay has now lost eight of its last 11 games.
–Field Level Media
