TORONTO — The Rays just needed a little help to get back to their winning ways Sunday, and they got it from an unlikely source in an 8-1 win.
Alek Manoah, the hard-throwing and outspoken Blue Jays ace, got off to a bad start, and the Rays took advantage to score three times in the first inning, getting one run on a bases-loaded walk and two more on a two-out Josh Lowe single.
That put the Rays in pretty good hands as they had their own ace, Shane McClanahan, on the mound with the three-run margin to work with.
Even better, the Rays added on with four runs in the fifth inning, showing more of the deep and versatile lineup that carried them to a modern-day, record-tying 13 straight wins to open the season before losing their last two.
Lowe had another run-scoring hit in that rally, and also a key move on the bases, sliding around third baseman Matt Chapman and hooking the bag with his right foot. That play, as well as a prior replay challenge on Taylor Walls steal of second, extended the inning to get Christian Bethancourt to the plate, and he delivered a three-run homer.
Manoah hit Yandy Diaz in the back with his first pitch, walked Brandon Lowe on five, gave up a single to Harold Ramirez, then walked Wander Franco to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. After striking out Luke Raley and Walls, Manoah allowed a bloop single to Josh Lowe that scored two more.
McClanahan overcame his own rough start — a leadoff walk and two singles leading to a run — to work six innings, allowing just four hits while striking out six, throwing 98 pitches.
That was also important as the Rays are scrambling to cover innings for Monday and Tuesday with scheduled starters Zach Eflin and Jeffrey Springs injured, and the bullpen has been taxed by recent heavy use.
The Rays (14-2) planned to leave after the game for Cincinnati, where they open a three-game series against the Reds (6-8) on Monday.
