ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays showed their versatility in beating the Blue Jays again Thursday, the 6-3 victory a combination of unusual accomplishments.
— Starter Zach Eflin working seven innings without striking out a batter.
— Three players stealing at least two bases for the first time in a game in franchise history, according to baseball-reference.com. (That led to the Rays scoring two runs in the fifth inning without a hit, as they combined two walks, three steals, an errant throw and an infield out.)
— Turning two double plays against speedy ex-teammate Kevin Kiermaier, who had been doubled up twice only three times previously in his career.
The Rays improved their majors-best record to 37-15 in taking three of four from the struggling Jays, who lost for the ninth time in their past 11 games to drop to 26-25. (Another oddity: The Rays were outscored in the series 30-20.)
Eflin was solid in working seven innings for the second straight start, allowing six hits and the one run, which came in the first. He became the fourth Rays pitcher to work at least seven innings without a strikeout, joining Mark Hendrickson (2004), Joe Kennedy (2002) and Albie Lopez (2001).
With Shane McClanahan posting similar back-to-back outings, the Rays have gotten seven innings from their starters four times in their last seven games.
The Rays stole a team and MLB season-high-matching seven bases, with Luke Raley, Taylor Walls and Wander Franco swiping two apiece. Randy Arozarena also had a steal. (The Rays’ team record for a game is eight.)
The Rays took an early lead when Franco tripled with one out in the first and Arozarena singled him home. Arozarena came around to score thanks to his own hustle, as well as that of Brandon Lowe on a strike-three wild pitch and Harold Ramirez on a fielder’s-choice ground ball.
They added a run in the second, when Josh Lowe doubled in Raley, then two without a hit in the fifth and another in the seventh when Arozarena again singled in Franco.
