Rays lose second straight to Toronto

TORONTO, (AP) - Yusei Kikuchi struck out a season-high nine over six innings, Danny Jansen had two hits and an RBI and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Saturday.

Alejandro Kirk reached base four times, scored once and drove in a run as Toronto won their second straight over the Rays, who matched a modern record by winning the first 13 games of the season.

The Blue Jays havewon four straight meetings with the Rays dating to last season, their longest streak against Tampa Bay since a five-game run from July to October 2015.

Taylor Walls homered for the Rays, who have connected at least once in all 15 games this season. Only Seattle (20 games in 2019) has begun a season with a longer streak.

Kikuchi (2-0) allowed one run and four hits, improving to 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in six career games against Tampa Bay. The left-hander walked one and retired the final eight batters he faced.

Erik Swanson worked the seventh and Adam Cimber gave up Randy Arozarena’s RBI groundout in the eighth. Closer Jordan Romano loaded the bases in the ninth but struck out Yandy Díaz and recovered after being struck by Wander Franco's comebacker to get the out at first, earning his league-leading sixth save in seven chances.

Bo Bichette opened the scoring with an RBI grounder off Rays right-hander Calvin Faucher in the third before Walls connected in the fourth.

Toronto answered with two in the bottom half against right-hander Trevor Kelley (0-1). Whit Merrifield drove in a run with a double before Jansen followed with an RBI single.

Rays reliever Josh Fleming issued four walks in the sixth, including one to George Springer with the bases loaded. Another of Fleming’s four walks was intentional.

Kirk made it 5-1 with an RBI single off Fleming in the seventh.

In his first big league start, Faucher allowed one run and two hits in 2 2/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Tampa Bay put RHP Ryan Thompson on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 13, and recalled Kelley from Triple-A Durham.

UP NEXT

LHP Shane McClanahan (3-0, 1.59) starts for the Rays on Sunday in a battle of unbeaten pitchers. RHP Alek Manoah (1-0, 4.91) goes for the Blue Jays.