Blue Jays gain split of 4-game series by beating Rays 9-2

Mark Didtler
·2 min read
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Justin Turner homered and drove in four runs as the Toronto Blue Jays gained a split of a four-game series by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Sunday.

After winning the opener 8-1 on Thursday, the Blue Jays were outscored 13-3 in losing the next two games. Toronto is 20-35 in road games against Tampa Bay since the start of the 2018 season.

Arozarena homers, drives in 2 runs to pace Rays’ 5-1 victory over Blue Jays

Randy Arozarena homered for the Rays. He also went deep in Saturday’s 5-1 win.

Toronto ace Kevin Gausman, on a pitch count after not making his spring training debut until March 25 because of shoulder fatigue, allowed one run, and two hits and struck out six in 4 ⅓ innings. The right-hander threw 48 of 69 pitches for strikes.

Nate Pearson finished the fifth and Mitch White (1-0) followed with three hitless innings. Chad Green allowed Isaac Paredes’ homer in the ninth, then completed a three-hitter before a crowd of just 14,875.

  • Tampa Bay Rays’ Tyler Alexander throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
    Tampa Bay Rays’ Tyler Alexander throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
  • Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, left, watches as Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena jogs home after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
    Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, left, watches as Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena jogs home after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
  • Toronto Blue Jays’ Justin Turner, left, watches as Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena leaps on third base as he celebrates a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
    Toronto Blue Jays’ Justin Turner, left, watches as Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena leaps on third base as he celebrates a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
  • Toronto Blue Jays’ Justin Turner, right, celebrates with third base coach Carlos Febles after a solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays’ Tyler Alexander during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
    Toronto Blue Jays’ Justin Turner, right, celebrates with third base coach Carlos Febles after a solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays’ Tyler Alexander during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Toronto took a 4-1 lead on Turner’s two-run double off Tyler Alexander in the second. Turner had an RBI single during a two-run first against opener Shawn Armstrong (0-1).

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Turner added a solo shot and Davis Schneider had a two-run drive to make it 7-1 in the fifth.

Alexander, who didn’t pitch after July 2 last season due to a left lat strain, gave up five runs and six hits over five innings.

Cavan Biggio hit an RBI single in a two-run seventh.

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