Brandon Lowe hits 2-run home run as Rays beat Blue Jays 4-2 to climb above .500
Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe, right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays with Richie Palacios (1) during the fifth inningof a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Chris Young
TORONTO — Brandon Lowe hit a two-run home run and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the fourth time in five games by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 17th home run and outfielder Daulton Varsho made an impressive leaping catch for the second game in a row, but Toronto lost for the fifth time in seven games.
Right-hander Shawn Armstrong opened for the Rays — who climbed back over .500 at 51-50 — in place of righty Ryan Pepiot, who was hospitalized in New York City on Sunday because of a knee infection.
Armstrong exited after striking out four in two scoreless innings. Left-hander Tyler Alexander (3-3) followed and struck out four over three shutout innings.
Alexander took a perfect game into the eighth when he last faced the Blue Jays, May 17 in Toronto.
Guerrero greeted right-hander Manuel Rodríguez with a leadoff homer in the sixth, his fourth in five games. Justin Turner followed with a home run and the Blue Jays hit back-to-back homers for the first time this season.
The Rays replied with an insurance run against Nate Pearson in the seventh. Taylor Walls walked and stole second, then advanced on an infield single before scoring on a double-play groundout.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios reacts at the end of third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays during in Toronto on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Chris Young
Pete Fairbanks finished for his 19th save in 21 chances.
Toronto’s José Berríos (8-8) allowed three runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings, his second straight losing start. The right-hander struck out five and matched a career-worst with six walks. He also walked six at Colorado on May 11, 2017.
Josh Lowe opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second. The Rays are 33-20 when they score first, and 18-30 when their opponent opens the scoring.
Varsho’s catch on Brandon Lowe’s deep drive to center helped keep the Rays from scoring in the third, when they left the bases loaded.
3Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shawn Armstrong works against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Chris Young
Brandon Lowe extended Tampa Bay’s lead with a first-pitch drive in the fifth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: Manager Kevin Cash said Pepiot has returned to Florida but the pitcher’s right knee remains swollen. … Cash had no update on INF Yandy Díaz, who remains away from the team for personal reasons.
ROSTER MOVES
Tampa Bay recalled Alexander from Triple-A Durham and optioned RHP Tyler Zuber to Triple-A. … The Rays claimed RHP Joel Kuhnel off waivers from Milwaukee.
UP NEXT
RHP Yariel Rodríguez (1-3, 3.78 ERA) is scheduled to start for Toronto on Wednesday against Tampa Bay RHP Zach Eflin (5-7, 4.14).
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