Brandon Lowe hit a two-run home run and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.
The Rays took advantage of three stolen bases to improve to 3-2 on their seven-game road trip.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Justin Turner hit solo homers for the Blue Jays, who are 1-3 to open a nine-game homestand.
Toronto starter Jose Berrios (8-8) allowed three runs, three hits and six walks to go along with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Shawn Armstrong served as an opener for the Rays and struck out four in two shutout innings. He allowed one hit and walked one.
Left-hander Tyler Alexander (3-3) took over in the third and pitched three scoreless innings, giving up three hits while striking out four without issuing a walk.
Tampa Bay scored once in the second, as Randy Arozarena drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Josh Lowe’s single to make it 1-0.
Toronto center fielder Daulton Varsho made a leaping catch at the wall on Brandon Lowe’s fly ball for the second out of the third with runners on first and second. Berrios escaped the inning without surrendering a run despite walking three in the frame.
Tampa Bay took a 3-0 lead in the fifth. Richie Palacios worked a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Brandon Lowe’s 11th homer of the year, a one-out blast to right.
Brendon Little replaced Berrios with two outs in the fifth.
Rays reliever Manuel Rodriguez allowed two home runs to start the sixth. Guerrero hit his 17th of the season, and Turner followed with his sixth to pull the Blue Jays within 3-2.
Taylor Walls came home when Isaac Paredes grounded into a double play in the seventh, putting Tampa Bay up 4-2.
Jason Adam pitched a perfect eighth for the Rays, striking out one. Pete Fairbanks had a clean ninth to earn his 19th save of the season.
–Field Level Media
