Duffy drives in winning run to walk-off Jays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Matt Duffy saved his best for last.
Duffy’s ground ball found a hole between third and short with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday and drove in the game’s only run in Tampa Bay’s win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
“After seeing that many zeroes, it’s definitely awesome to come out on top in that game,” Duffy said after a game in which eight pitchers gave up a total of 10 hits.
Duffy drove in Mallex Smith, who doubled with one out and moved to third base on a groundout.
Diego Castillo (1-0) got his first major league win after pitching two innings of relief.
Ryan Tepera (3-2) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for the Jays, who were swept in the three-game series and have lost five of six to the Rays this season. It was the 12th time the Blue Jays have scored one run or none this season, and the first time since August 2011 they were held without an extra-base hit for a second straight game.
“I have no explanation for it. It’s the way it is,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said.
Curtis Granderson had the first three of Toronto’s five hits, leadoff singles in the first, third and fifth innings, and was the only runner to reach third base until Smith in the ninth.
With two outs in the Toronto ninth, Aldemys Diaz hit a line drive off Castillo that was caught by left fielder Johnny Field near the top of the wall, the best-hit ball of the game by far.