5 pitchers, 2 Kiermaier catches send Rays over Blue Jays 2-0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Alex Cobb and four relievers combined on a six-hitter and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier made two spectacular catches to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Thursday.
A day after the same two teams combined for nine home runs in a 7-6 Toronto win, pitching took over.
Cobb, making his first start in 19 days, was taken out of the game in the fifth inning after throwing 94 pitches despite giving up no runs. Steve Cishek (2-0) got the win and Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his 38th save.
The Rays' 1-0 lead was preserved in the fifth by the catches from Kiermaier, a two-time Gold Glover. Tampa Bay also benefited when a replay turned Josh Donaldson's two-run double into a foul ball.
Tom Koehler (0-1) pitched five innings in his first start for Toronto, giving up one run on five hits while striking out seven. He was 1-5 with a 7.92 ERA when Miami traded him to the Blue Jays last weekend.
Daniel Robertson drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly in the second. It came after a single by Jesus Sucre and a couple of walks by Koehler.
Corey Dickerson's 24th home run drove in Tampa Bay's other run in the eighth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez, who last pitched July 17, is throwing and reporting no blister issues with his middle finger, but manager John Gibbons said Sanchez will have to build up his arm again before he returns.
Rays: 2B Brad Miller left the game in the fifth inning with a bruised right shoulder after being hit by a Koehler pitch in the second inning.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (6-9) will pitch at home against the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (6-7), who grew up in the St. Louis area, will make his third career start against the Cardinals on Friday night in the first game of a nine-game road trip.