Left-hander Tyler Alexander was perfect into the eighth inning, Richie Palacios hit a two-run home run and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Friday night.
Davis Schneider hit a two-run home run for the Blue Jays, who did not have a base runner until Danny Jansen singled with one out in the eighth.
Alexander (2-2) allowed three runs and three hits in 7 1/3 innings in the opener of a three-game series. He walked none and struck out four.
Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (3-6) allowed three runs, five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
The Rays broke through in the sixth when Randy Arozarena doubled down the left-field line with one out. He scored on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s errant throw to third after Jonathan Aranda grounded out to second. Isaac Paredes walked for the third time in the game with two outs. Palacios followed with his fourth homer of the season on a drive to right field. Zach Pop replaced Bassitt.
Tampa Bay scored again in the seventh. Ben Rortvedt reached first on Guerrero’s second error of the game on a grounder. Jonny DeLuca singled. The runners advanced on a wild pitch and Yandy Diaz hit an RBI single to center. Genesis Cabrera replaced Pop and got out of the inning with a strikeout and a double-play grounder.
Alexander retired his 21st consecutive batter when Guerrero flied out to center to end the seventh inning.
Jansen broke up the perfect game in the eighth with a one-out single that dropped into right field. Schneider followed with his fifth homer of the season on a blast to left. Daulton Varsho singled and Manuel Rodriguez replaced Alexander.
Pinch hitter Daniel Vogelbach hit a ground ball to first that Diaz fielded but made an errant throw in an attempt to get Varsho, leaving runners on the corners. Pinch hitter Cavan Biggio hit an RBI single. George Springer grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Pete Fairbanks pitched a clean ninth inning with a strikeout to earn his fourth save of the season.
–Field Level Media
