ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Despite their recent hitting struggles and their reappearance on Wednesday, the Rays had a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning. All David Peralta needed to do was maneuver the ball around a Blue Jays infield that was pulled up to the Tropicana Field turf.
First, he fouled off a pair of fastballs. Then, a slider. On the seventh pitch of his at-bat, Peralta — acquired from the Diamondbacks four days ago — laced a single up the middle, scoring fellow newcomer Jose Siri and putting the Rays ahead in an eventual 3-2 win.
The Rays’ pitching again carried them — as a progression of Jalen Beeks, Ryan Yarbrough, Ryan Thompson, Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam limited the Blue Jays to four hits — and helped secure just the team’s fourth win in 12 games since the All-Star break.
