Siri and Peralta Raise Rays to Defeat Blue Jays – TSN.ca

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hits from newly acquired Jose Siri and David Peralta helped the Tampa Bay Rays win in a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Siri led from Tampa Bay in sixth with a lone out Adam Cimber (8-4). He stole second place, moved up to third with a groundout and scored in Peralta’s tied singles.

Peralta had two of Tampa Bay’s six hits, all singles, after hitting just two in Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss.

Peralta was acquired in a trade from Arizona on Saturday, and Siri came over from Houston in a three-way trade on Monday.

“I had a lot of pressure,” Peralta said after riding for the Rays in his first heat. “I got here on Sunday. We lost. We lost yesterday and I was like, ‘Come on. You have to do something.’ We had to start winning.

“But I tried not to do too much. I knew it would happen, but it happened today.”

Ryan Thompson (3-2) clinched the win after throwing two hitless innings. Jason Adam worked the ninth for his fifth save in six attempts.

Teoscar Hernández drove in Toronto’s runs with a double in the first inning and his 15th homer in the fourth.

Yusei Kikuchi allowed two runs and three hits in four innings and knocked out five. He threw 74 pitches in his second start after a three-week hiatus due to a neck strain.

“Overall, I felt good,” Kikuchi said through a translator. “All three pitches worked, so I feel like I’m getting better and better.”

Radiation Opener Jalen Beeks pitched an inning and Ryan Yarbrough followed with four innings, giving up Hernández’s homer as his only hit. It was Hernández’s sixth career homer before Yarbrough.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s single in the eighth was Toronto’s only hit in four innings against Thompson, Pete Fairbanks and Adam. The Blue Jays had just four men on base after the first inning and one was doubled on a line drive.

“[Toronto has]arguably one of the best lineups in the league, so if you can close them anytime it’s a huge win for us,” Adam said of Little Stripe here.

The Blue Jays (58-46) started the day as the AL wildcard leaders after winning 13 of their previous 16 games. The Rays (55-49) won only their third win in 11 games.

“You want to finish a homestand well, especially against someone we’re chasing in the wildcard right now,” Yarbrough said. “So everyone is in a good position at the moment and we have a few new additions to the team.”

MERRIFELD’S VACCINATION DECISION

Whit Merrifielda two-time All-Star second baseman acquired from Toronto in a deal with Kansas City on Tuesday has a week to decide whether to get vaccinated so he can play in Canada.

Merrifield was one of 10 unvaccinated royals who were unable to play in the July 14-17 series in Toronto due to Canadian travel restrictions.

“Obviously we knew he wasn’t in Toronto (with the Royals) but it’s a personal decision for him,” said acting Toronto coach John Schneider. “I’m sure he’s had conversations with his family and other people. So we look forward to having him in Minnesota tomorrow.”

The Blue Jays will play Minnesota this weekend and Baltimore next week before returning to Toronto on Aug. 12 to open a six-game home stand.

TRAINING ROOM

Blue Jay: RHP Ross Stripling was placed on the 15-day IL with a proper Glut strain. … FROM George Springer missed the fourth of five games with a sore right elbow, but has resumed baseball activities.

Rays: RHP Matt Wisler (Neck strain) is almost ready for rehab before it activates. … FROM Harald Ramirezwho has been out since July 18 is due for another X-ray of his fractured right thumb.

NEXT

Blue Jays: Alek Manoah (11-5, 2.42 ERA) will open a four-game series Thursday night in Minnesota.

Rays: LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-3, 2.70 ERA) will hit the opener of a four-game streak in Detroit on Thursday night.

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