There was no single blow that decided this one. The Tampa Bay Rays simply kept scoring, an inning at a time, until a one-run game in the second became a rout by the ninth. Toronto managed only a single run across nine innings, and the Rays left Rogers Centre with a 7-1 win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TB | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| TOR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
Nick Martinez carried the Rays through six innings, allowing just 6 hits and 1 run (1 earned) while walking one and striking out none. He worked around traffic all night without letting it cost him, and the Tampa Bay bullpen finished the job with three shutout innings, covering the final three frames without allowing a run. Martinez improved to 9-2 with a 2.59 ERA.
The Rays built their lead in pieces. Victor Mesa opened the scoring with a home run to center in the second, a 412-foot shot that put Tampa Bay ahead 1-0 and it never let go. Jonathan Aranda's single in the third scored Taylor Walls to make it 2-0. In the fifth, Nick Fortes scored on a fielding error by shortstop Giménez, and Junior Caminero followed with a single that brought home Yandy Diaz, pushing the margin to 4-1. Cedric Mullins added a solo homer to center in the sixth, Caminero doubled in Diaz again in the seventh, and Fortes capped the night with a homer to left center in the ninth for the final margin.
Toronto's only run came in the fourth, when Alejandro Kirk singled to right and George Springer scored. Dylan Cease took the loss despite seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings, allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits. The Toronto bullpen surrendered 2 more runs over three innings, and the Blue Jays' offense, limited to 8 hits overall, could not sustain any pressure against Martinez or the relievers who followed him.
Tampa Bay improved to 57-42 and sits atop its division, riding the win after a loss. Toronto fell to 46-54, losing its second straight. Yandy Diaz, who scored twice and collected two hits, sits at 998 career games played, two shy of the 1,000 mark.