The Hamilton Spectator

Eflin gets seventh win, Rays beat struggling Manoah and Blue Jays

Toronto falls 10 games behind Tampa in AL East

- MARK DIDTLER

1⁄2

Zach Eflin became Major League Baseball’s third seven-game winner, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat struggling Alek Manoah and Toronto, 6-3, on Thursday to take three of four from the Blue Jays.

Eflin (7-1) allowed one run and six hits in seven innings as the majorleagu­e-leading Rays (37-15) stole seven bases for the second time this season and improved to 24-5 at home. He joined teammate Shane McClanahan (8-0) and Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (7-1) as the big-leagues’ winningest pitchers.

Manoah (1-5), a 16-game winner last year, extended his winless streak to nine starts after giving up five runs, three hits and five walks over three innings with six strikeouts. He threw just 44 of 87 pitches for strikes and his ERA climbed from 5.15 to 5.53, The Rays stole five bases while he was on the mound.

Toronto (26-25) has lost nine of 11 and is 8-15 in May. The Blue Jays are 6-15 in division play after going 4333 last year. They trail the Rays by 10 ⁄ games and the teams do not meet again until they play six games during the final 10 days of the season.

After the Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against Jake Diekman, Colin Poche entered and walked Bo Bichette on four pitches and gave up a sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Ernie Clement. Poche got his first save this season when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded into a game-ending forceout.

Wander Franco tripled and scored on Randy Arozarena’s single during Tampa Bay’s two-run first. Arozarena stole second and took third as Brandon Lowe struck out and reached first on a wild pitch. Harold Ramírez then hit a potential inning-ending double-play that second baseman Cavan Biggio bobbled and could only get a forceout at second as Arozarena came home.

Josh Lowe made it 3-1 on a runscoring double in the second. Manoah, who threw 62 pitches through two innings, avoided further damage by striking out Brandon Lowe to strand the bases loaded.

Taylor Walls stole third as part of a double theft and scored on an errant throw by catcher Alejandro Kirk in a two-run third as the Rays went up 5-1.

Franco stole his 16th and 17th bases and scored to put the Rays ahead on Arozarena’s seventh-inning single off of Adam Cimber.

Toronto’s Brandon Belt had a first-inning RBI single.

Keepsake

Rays 1B Luke Raley sent the ball he struck out Guerrero on in the eighth inning Tuesday to the Blue Jays clubhouse for the slugger to sign. Guerrero hit a grand slam off of Raley in the ninth,

Short stay

Tampa Bay optioned RHP Ben Heller to Triple-A Durham one day after he was called up. He warmed up in the bullpen Wednesday but hasn’t gotten into a big-league game since Sept. 4, 2020.

Trainer’s room Blue Jays

C Danny Jansen (left groin tightness) underwent an MRI.

Up next Blue Jays

RHP Kevin Gausman (2-3) will go Friday night against Minnesota RHP Louis Varland (2-0).

Rays RHP Cooper Criswell (0-1) will start or follow an opener against Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Noah Syndergaar­d (1-3) on Friday night.

 ?? CHRIS O’MEARA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah had another rough start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla. The right-hander fell to 1-5 on the season, lasting just three innings and allowing five runs in a 6-3 Blue Jays loss.
CHRIS O’MEARA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah had another rough start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla. The right-hander fell to 1-5 on the season, lasting just three innings and allowing five runs in a 6-3 Blue Jays loss.

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