St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP) — Chris Bassitt became just the second American League pitcher with 15 hits and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 Friday night in an intrasquad showdown. at their disposal.
Bassitt (15-8) allowed two runs on six hits while striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings. He tied the Rays’ Zach Eflin for the American League’s hit leader.
Jordan Romano replaced Jordan Hicks with two on and two out in the eighth inning and walked Isaac Paredes on four pitches before retiring Curtis Mead on a grounder to preserve a 4-2 lead on the blackboard. The right-hander then worked his way through the ninth to record 36 saves in 39 chances.
Dalton Varsho hit a solo home run in the ninth inning that made it two runs for the Blue Jays, who entered the game with the second wild-card spot a half-game over Texas and Seattle.
For the Blue Jays, Dominican Santiago Espinal 4-1, one run scored; Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 3-0, scoring one goal. Mexico’s Alejandro Kirk is 0 for 3, RBI.
For the Rays, Mexican-Cuban Randy Arosarena went 2-1 with one run scored. Colombian Harold Ramirez was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Venezuela’s Oslevis Pasabe 4-1; Rene Pinto is 4-0. Jonathan Aranda of Mexico 4-0; Isaac Paredes 3-0. Dominican Manuel Margot 2-1. Cuban Yandy Diaz 4-0.
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