‘Red’ Jays crush Rays on Canada Day

Lucas2022-07-02

The Red and Whites waved sticks with all their might on Canada Day.

Also known as the Blue Jays when not wearing the national colors on special occasions, they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Friday morning, making it two in a row on their generic competitors.

Toronto is now heading for a double-header Saturday against the same opponent (noon and 6 p.m.) with a 26-16 record since nervously flirting with .500 in mid-May. They continue to battle for the first and second wildcard spots with the Boston Red Sox behind the Yankee machine, but this streak has so far helped prevent the injury-riddled Rays from tightening up the American League East.

The sale of 44,445 at the Rogers Center, many wearing red No. 4 George Springer jerseys, first marked a pre-game ceremony honoring the retirement of Canadian-born Jays wide receiver Russell Martin in 2019 then saw Springer add to the offense with a two-run alone in the sixth.

After failing to last four innings in his previous two starts, both losses, starter Jose Berrios held the Rays to one run and one more in four and gave up just one more in fifth before to make way for Trent Thornton, Sergio Romo and Max. Castile. The bullpen trio allowed a hit only to Castillo’s in the ninth.

Berrios took a lot of attacks in the third when the Buddies around the order on Corey Kluber, while hammering five doubles. They included two-point shots from Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., both rushing to beat the tags to the sack. Alejandro Kirk also delivered a brace down the line as Kluber came out after the Jays threatened to load bases. In addition to 11 hits per team, the Jays’ first four in the order threw eight balls to the outfield on which the Rays had to scramble for outs.

In the sixth, all Toronto starters had reached base once when point guard Springer added a two-run single to David McKay, the latter also giving up a solo shot to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. He came out in June with the fourth best stick. average in the majors at 0.355.

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The Rays’ long list of injuries is part of the reason they rank second in lapses allowed, but all of the Jays’ hits were legit.

It was manager Charlie Montoyo’s first home game on July 1 since his inaugural season in 2019.

« Happy Canada Day from a Puerto Rican, » he said before the game, noting that last year at Buffalo just wasn’t the real thing, even though they were wearing the reds. « That series against Boston (last week) where the fans were so vocal, I really think about it (compared to playing in Buffalo), I really appreciate it.

« Today is pretty cool. My wife just bought our kids red shoes.

BIRD SEEDS

Third baseman Matt Chapman was fired Friday, until he came in at ninth for the defense. The double head loomed in Montoyo’s shot. « Too many games, everyone’s going to have a day, » he said of a small break in the schedule and an unusual five-game set against Tampa. « No way you could play that much or anyone get hurt. » … Among the Canada Day video gags were the Jays attempting to sing O Canada just and players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. taping a hockey stick.

lhornby@postmedia.com

torontosun

Lucas2022-07-02