TORONTO — The sloppy performance that led to the Rays’ loss to the Blue Jays on Friday marked the end of their modern-day, major league-record-tying, season-opening winning streak at 13 games.
Now, they have to hope a second straight loss to the Blue Jays, this one 5-2, isn’t the start of a different kind of streak.
In rolling through the first two weeks of the season undefeated, the Rays (13-2) beat four of the lesser teams in the majors — the Tigers, Nationals, A’s and Red Sox. Stepping up in class to face the contending Blue Jays so far has proved to be a tougher assignment.
The Rays’ offense, which led the majors through their first 13 games, was quiet again, especially against left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi. And their pitching on an opener/bullpen day wasn’t sharp.
Relievers Trevor Kelley, a Saturday morning call-up to replace now-injured Ryan Thompson, and Josh Fleming both had issues.
The Blue Jays took the lead in the third, showcasing their additional speed and planned more-aggressive style of play. A one-out double steal by ex-Ray Kevin Kiermaier and George Springer set up a run-scoring groundout by Bo Bichette.
The Rays quickly tied the game in the top of fourth, with Taylor Walls homering to left off Kikuchi.
Kelley got two quick outs and was a strike away from ending the bottom of the inning. Instead he made quite a mess.
Kelley hit Alejandro Kirk with a pitch and balked him to second. Kelley then allowed an RBI double to Whit Merrifield and an RBI single to Danny Jansen to make it 3-1.
Fleming’s troubles came in the sixth, when he walked the first two batters. After an infield out, an intentional walk, and a strikeout of Kiermaier, he issued another walk to force in a run. In the seventh, Fleming allowed three singles to extend Toronto’s lead to 5-1.
