Jays sting Rays 6-3 with a four-run eighth inning

TORONTO – Following Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier’s announcement of his retirement plans, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made it clear that he is not ready to end his current hot streak.

Guerrero hit his fifth home run in six games and drove in another run in the Blue Jays’ 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.

“I can tell you it’s been great and it’s not over yet,” Guerrero said when asked if this was the best two-week stretch of his career.

The 25-year-old Guerrero acknowledged that he has been performing at his peak recently. He has shown patience at the plate, waiting for the right pitch, and his confidence is at an all-time high.

“Things are going my way now,” he said. “I’m hitting the ball hard and making solid contact. I’m focusing on the right pitch now. I think that’s the big difference.”

In the last 24 games, Guerrero has hit .351 (34 for 97) with nine doubles, 10 homers, and 31 RBIs.

“Every single at-bat he just feels so dangerous,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “A lot of it revolves around how you’re going to pitch Vlad.

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“He’s starting to understand to narrow his focus into pitches that he can really hammer.”

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While Kiermaier, 34, did not experience an offensive surge like his Blue Jays teammate, he excelled defensively with four gold-glove seasons.

Prior to the game, the former Rays outfielder was interviewed by the Tampa Bay Times. The last question he was asked was about his future.

“I was just being honest,” Kiermaier said. “This may have caught some off guard, but I’m at peace with my decision. My body has been talking to me more than ever this season.”

Kiermaier mentioned that playing 10 seasons on artificial turf in Tampa and Toronto has taken a toll on his body.

Before joining the Blue Jays last season, he was a formidable opponent for Toronto with his defensive skills and speed at the plate.

“Watching him play on the other side, he was a guy who was easy to hate,” Schneider said. “He was a real pain in the ass.

“Knowing him as a player, a husband, and a father over the last year-and-a-half in the clubhouse, he’s the ultimate professional. He’s meant a lot to this group. He’s probably one of the best center-fielders of this era for the last 10 years or so.”

Kiermaier and his wife are expecting their third child, a girl, in December.

After intentionally walking Guerrero to load the bases, back-to-back RBI singles from Justin Turner and Daulton Varsho in the eighth inning sparked a four-run rally.

The Blue Jays (46-55) evened the three-game series with Tampa Bay (51-51) at one win each.

The Blue Jays secured their second win in five games since the MLB All-Star break in front of 32,276 fans at Rogers Centre.

A double by Ben Rortvedt brought in the final run for the Rays in the ninth inning.

Toronto starter Yariel Rodriguez retired the first 12 Rays batters in order. Randy Arozarena broke the no-hit bid with a leadoff double down the right-field line in the fifth inning.

He scored on a single by Josh Lowe that slipped under Guerrero’s glove.

Rodriguez, a 27-year-old rookie, pitched 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts, allowing one run on two hits and a walk. The walk to Richie Palacios led to the tying run in the sixth inning.

Left-handed reliever Brendon Little walked Brandon Lowe with two outs. Arozarena then drove in Palacios with a hard-hit single to left.

Blue Jays reliever Genesis Cabrera (3-2) earned the win for his two-strikeout eighth inning.

Rays starter Zach Eflin also pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

ON DECK

Chris Bassitt (8-8) will start for the Blue Jays in the series finale against Tampa on Thursday afternoon. The Rays will send right-hander Taj Bradley (5-4) to the mound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 24, 2024.

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