Jays best Rays, get back in win column
Here are the three things you need to know about Saturday night’s 5-1 victory over the Rays in Tampa, which snapped the Jays’ losing streak at five games:
New-look lineup
After averaging just 3.3 runs per game during a recent 2-8 skid, Jays manager Charlie Montoyo finally decided to shake things up. With George Springer out with a sprained ankle, Matt Chapman was elevated to the leadoff spot while Bo Bichette dropped from second to fourth. The move provided a spark right away. The Jays loaded the bases in the top of the first inning before Santiago Espinal, hitting fifth, came through with a sacrifice fly to open the scoring.
Teo time
Teoscar Hernández hadn’t done much since returning to the lineup following an oblique injury, but that changed in Tampa. With the Jays and Rays locked in a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning, Hernández led off with a solo homer to centre, his second of the year. Danny Jansen followed with another solo shot, in his first game off the injured list as part of a four-run inning to secure the win. Hernández finished the night 2-for-5. while Jansen went 1-for-2 with a walk.
Stranded
Hyun-Jin Ryu surrendered a leadoff homer to Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz, but the only other time he found himself in trouble came in the fourth. The Rays had runners on first and second with just one out when Vidal Brujan hit a chopper toward the hole between third and shortstop. Chapman made a nifty snag with his glove, then tagged Manuel Margot before throwing to second to end the threat with a double-play. Yimi García, Tim Mayza, Adam Cimber and Jordan Romano then combined to toss 4 ⁄ innings and help secure the win.