(St. Petersburg) Chris Bassitt became the second American League pitcher to reach 15 wins and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Friday in a duel between the two best teams drafted in the American League.
Bassitt (15-8) gave up two runs and six hits but struck out eight batters in six-plus innings of work.
Jordan Romano relieved Jordan Hicks in the eighth inning and allowed a walk to Isaac Paredes. He then retired Curtis Mead to preserve the Blue Jays’ 4-2 lead. The right-handed pitcher won 36It is rescued on 39 occasions.
Daulton Varsho scored during a two-run ninth inning for the Blue Jays.
Rays star outfielder Randy Arozarena left the game after the fourth inning because of a right quadriceps strain. He hit a double in the first inning and scored the first run of the game on Harold Ramírez’s single.
Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was back in the team’s lineup for the start of this series against the Rays.
Guerrero, who missed much of his team’s previous two games due to knee discomfort, collected two hits in three at-bats. He crossed home plate once.
