Homer-lucky Blue Jays regain 2-game lead over Rays in AL wildcard race | CBC sport

Tampa Bay’s two-year tenure as AL East champions is over.

George Springer scored twice, Alejandro Kirk and Teoscar Hernandez also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Rays 7-1 on Sunday to earn a four-game split.

The New York Yankees have a comfortable lead in the AL East, and Sunday’s loss eliminated the third-ranked Rays from the division race, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Toronto (86-67) opened a two-game lead over Tampa Bay (84-69) for the best AL wildcard with nine games left. Seattle (83-69) is 2 1/2 games behind the Blue Jays and a half game behind the Rays after squandering a big lead in a 13-12 loss to Kansas City. Baltimore remains four games behind the Mariners for third and last place.

The Blue Jays return home for six games against the Yankees and Boston before heading to Baltimore for three.

The Rays end the regular season with a nine-game trip to AL Central Champion Cleveland, AL West Champion Houston and Boston.

“We have our own destiny in our hands,” said Tampa Bay infielder Taylor Walls. “Not winning today hurts a bit but at the same time we have enough games ahead of us if we play well enough. I’m pretty confident we can be where we want to be.”

Toronto allowed 20 runs to lose the first two games of the series but limited Tampa Bay to two runs total to win the last two.

Ross Stripling (9-4) allowed a run and six hits in five innings. Zach Pop, Adam Cimber, Trevor Richards and Yusei Kikuchi all gave up a hit over four innings.

Rays All-Star Shane McClanahan (12-7), pulled in the fifth inning of his previous start due to neck strain, gave up four runs and six hits, including a career-high three homers, over five innings.

McClanahan said he was healthy but was having trouble with command. This was his third start since spending 15 days on the injured list with left shoulder impingement.

“I felt good … I just didn’t have it today,” McClanahan said. “I have to do better. It’s frustrating.”

The left-hander is 2-4 with a 4.26 ERA in nine games since the All-Star break.

Springer had a two-run shot in the third and added a solo drive in the fifth inning for his 23rd homer of the season as the Blue Jays went 4-1 up. He finished his 20th multi-homer game of his career with three hits — 19 at the head. Only Mookie Betts (20) has more in major league history.

Kirk had a solo homer in the second, and Hernandez made it 6-1 with a double-barreled homer in the eighth from Garrett Cleavinger.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit an RBI single in the ninth inning.

Randy Arozarena drew the Rays to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly in the third.

Disappointing turnout

Viewership announced Sunday was 16,394, giving the Rays a final home attendance for the season of 1,128,127. The total will be the third lowest in the majors. Tampa Bay drew 1,178,735 in 2019, the last year two seasons ago with COVID attendance restrictions. The Rays have drawn fewer than 1.3 million at home each year since 2015.

Counting

Springer has three home runs in 13 at-bats against McClanahan. … Rays shortstop Wander Franco extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the third inning. … Tampa Bay first baseman Harold Ramirez had three hits.

Happy trails

Retired Rays bullpen coach Stan Boroski and major league medical coordinator Paul Harker threw ceremonial first pitches. Boroski is in his 13th season with the team, while Harker joined the Rays in 1998 for their inaugural season.

Coach’s room

Rays: Third baseman Yandy Diaz (left shoulder) was absent for the sixth straight game but was able to start Tuesday.

Next

blue jay: Open a home series against the New York Yankees on Monday night.

Rays: Corey Kluber (10-9) will serve for Cleveland for the first time since he left the team after the 2019 season. Kluber, who won the AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland in 2014-17, meets fellow right-hander Shane Bieber (12-8).

Glasnow is expected to start on Wednesday

Ray’s right-hander Tyler Glasnow is scheduled to return to the rotation Wednesday night in Cleveland after missing nearly 14 months for surgery by Tommy John.

The Rays opening day starter last year has not pitched this season after undergoing the Aug. 4, 2021 procedure.

“I think we’re pretty confident that he’s going to start for us on Wednesday,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said Sunday. “This is the first time he’s been thrown without pain in a while so he’s encouraged.”

The 6-foot-1 right-hander won 5-2 in 14 starts last year with an earned run average of 2.66 and is a key addition as the Rays are close to a wildcard spot.

“Compared to the past, it feels a lot better in about three years … the week before launches and stuff,” Glasnow said. “It’s good to have one [ulnar collateral ligament]You know.”

Cash said Glasnow would pitch about 45 pitches on his first outing, which should allow him to play two or three innings.

Kiermaier plays future unclear

Injured Tampa Bay midfielder Kevin Kiermaier had a busy week during the Rays’ last home stand of the regular season.

He was the third person in the television booth for Wednesday night’s game against Houston and got a video tribute during Saturday night’s game against Toronto.

Kiermaier, 32, who is in the final season of a six-year, $53.5 million contract, is facing an uncertain off-season after undergoing surgery on the end of his left hip nearly two months ago. The Rays have a $13 million option for 2023, which they will likely turn down in favor of a $2.5 million buyout.

When asked if the video tribute felt like a farewell, Kiermaier said no.

“It was more of an appreciation for me,” Kiermaier said ahead of the Rays’ regular-season home final on Sunday. “To be realistic, I don’t know if that was my last Saturday game for me here in the regular season. Lots of unknowns. I don’t know if I will put on this jersey and enter this field again.”