(St. Petersburg) Kevin Gausman allowed just one hit in eight innings of work and the Toronto Blue Jays kicked off their nine-game road trip by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1, Tuesday evening.
Posted at 10:42 p.m.
The Blue Jays have won 11 of their last 13 outings and stretched their lead over the Rays to four games for first place among the teams drafted from the American.
Jordan Romano took care of the ninth inning and he recorded a 25e save this season, a high in the American, even if he gave a home run to Taylor Walls.
The Torontonians were busy at the trade deadline. They acquired utility player Whit Merrifield as well as relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop.
Gausman (8-8) walked Randy Arozarena in the first inning, hit Isaac Paredes one out and then struck out 14 straight before Walls hit a double in the top of the sixth. The right-hander passed 10 opponents in the mitt.
The visitors took the lead in the first inning when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled and scored on a Bo Bichette single against Drew Rasmussen (6-4). Guerrero extended his streak to 13 games with at least one hit.
Danny Jansen hit a two-run single after two outs in the ninth inning to extend the lead to 3-0.
Rasmussen gave up one run and six hits in six innings at the mound for the Rays, who are 3-8 since returning from the All-Star Game break.
Center fielder Jose Siri, acquired from the Houston Astros on Monday, had no hits in three appearances at the plate in his debut with the Tampa squad. He did, however, make a nice catch in the third set.