Bradley extends scoreless streak to 23 innings, Lowe hits leadoff home run, Rays beat Blue Jays 13-0
TORONTO — Taj Bradley extended his scoreless streak to 23 innings by winning his fifth straight decision over Brandon Lowe hit a home run into the upper deck and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-0 on Thursday.
Isaac Paredes had four RBIs and Alex Jackson drove in three as the Rays set a season high in runs and won for the 18th time in 30 games.
Lowe hit 4 for 4 with three RBIs and walked two, getting within a triple of the cycle. Amed Rosario had three hits for the Rays, who have won 13 straight by scoring four or more runs.
Bradley (6-4) allowed two hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked one, improving to 5-1 with a 0.82 ERA in his last nine starts. The 23-year-old right-hander hasn’t lost since June 8 against Baltimore.
Edwin Uceta and Colin Poche finished the game without a hit in the Rays’ sixth shutout, fourth against Toronto this season.
Infielder Ernie Clement pitched the ninth inning for the Blue Jays.
Spencer Horwitz doubled in the first inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base on an infield single, but Bradley responded by retiring Justin Turner and Daulton Varsho, the first two of an 11-game strikeout streak.
Lowe hit the 23rd Upper Deck home run since the Toronto stadium opened in June 1989, a solo shot in the first off Chris Bassitt (8-9).
It was Toronto’s first walk-off home run since Lowe and former Rays teammate Austin Meadows both did it on April 12, 2019. Meadows and Lowe connected four batters apart against right-hander Trent Thornton that night, hitting nearly identical drives of 436 feet.
Lowe joined Jose Canseco (three), Edwin Encarnacion (two) and Josh Phelps (two) as the only players to hit more than one home run in the fifth floor in Toronto. Lowe’s 414-foot home run Thursday was the shortest of 23 to reach the fifth floor.
Paredes and Lowe hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the third.
Bassitt’s next pitch was an 86 mph changeup that hit Randy Arozarena in the batting helmet. Arozarena fell to the ground briefly but was unhurt and gave Bassitt a thumbs-up as the Blue Jays pitcher approached home plate.
Bassitt allowed three runs and five hits in five innings, his second straight losing start.
Paredes and Jackson hit two-run singles off Trevor Richards as the Rays pulled away with a four-run sixth inning. Tampa Bay added five more in the seventh off right-handers Ryan Burr and Nate Pearson.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Rays INF Yandy Diaz has remained away from the team for personal reasons.
FOLLOWING
Rays: Right-handed pitcher Shane Baz (0-1, 3.95 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday against Cincinnati left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo (8-3, 3.51 ERA).
Blue Jays: Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (4-9, 4.54 ERA) is expected to start Friday against Texas left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney (4-10, 3.60).
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