Gausman delivers one-hit gem as Blue Jays beat Rays – TSN.ca

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Gausman allowed one hit and hit 10 in eight masterful innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays opened a nine-game journey Tuesday night with a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Blue Jays have won 11 of 13, extending their lead over Tampa Bay to four games for the top AL wildcard spot.

Jordan Romano worked on the ninth to make his AL-best 25th save despite allowing Taylor Wall’s leadoff homer in the ninth.

The Blue Jays were busy before the close of trading an hour before the first pitch. They acquired two-time AL All-Star Utilityman Whit Merrifield of Kansas City and relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop of Miami.

“I think I’m feeling great,” said Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider. “Were excited. We have confidence in our team. We have a really good team with the guys that are here right now and we just did better.”

Gausman (8-8) led Randy Arozarena for the first time, hitting Isaac Paredes with a pitch with an out and then going out 14 straight before Walls scored the Rays’ first hit to start the sixth. The right-hander threw 75 of 103 pitches for strikes.

“He located his heater … He was angry,” Schneider said. “If he gets that in the zone with his splinter where he wants it, he’s really, really hard to hit. He was just dominant tonight.”

Gausman had a 5.74 ERA (10 earned carries, 15 2/3 innings) over his previous three starts.

“In terms of delivery, I felt like I was in rhythm,” Gausman said. “I just think I did pretty well against a lot of them. We just didn’t make any mistakes.”

Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the first game when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled and scored after a single from Bo Bichette against Drew Rasmussen (6-4). Guerrero has a 13-game hitting streak.

Danny Jansen fired a two-run single with two outs in ninth place down the middle.

Rasmussen gave up a run and six hits over six innings.

Tampa Bay is 3-8 since the All-Star break and is averaging three runs per game over the stretch.

“This is a game where you might come in one day and have 15 hits and zero the next day,” Walls said.

Center fielder Jose Siri, acquired from Houston Monday, went 0 for 3 on his Rays debut. He made a nifty sliding catch to take a hit from Bichette with two ons and two outs in the third and just missed a diving -Catch on Jansen’s single.

“Incredible game,” said Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash. “Art came out of nowhere. Very encouraged. He was frustrated with himself for not catching the last hit (Jansen’s hit). I’m not sure how many center fielders catch that.”

RADIATION REINFORCEMENTS

Although there was only a small deal on Tuesday, and OF sent Brett Phillips to Baltimore for $100,000, Tampa Bay should get a lot of help from the inside in late August or early September.

Erik Neander, president of baseball operations, said SS Wander Franco (right hamate bone surgery) and OFs Harold Ramirez (broken right thumb) and Manuel Margot (right patellar tendon strain) could all be back during the time frame.

TRAINING ROOM

Blue Jays: OF George Springer (right elbow) was absent from the lineup for the third time in four games. He will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

Rays: C Francisco Mejia (right shoulder impingement) and RHP Matt Wisler (neck strain) could return later this week. … RHP Yonny Chirinois (Tommy John surgery) and LHP Brendan McKay (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) had their rehab duties moved from the rookie-level FCL to Class A Charleston.

NEXT

Blue Jays: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-5), Wednesday’s starter, is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three games against Tampa Bay.

Rays: LHP Ryan Yarbrough (0-6) follows opener Jalen Beeks (1-1) on Wednesday.

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