Rays rout Manoah, beat Jays 8-1

SPORTS

McClanahan gets fourth win, Rays rout Manoah, beat Jays 8-1

Published Sunday, April 16, 2023 5:25PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (6) is visited at the mound and subbed out during fifth inning AL MLB baseball action against the Tampa Bay Rays in Toronto on Sunday, April 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

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TORONTO -- Shane McClanahan pitched six effective innings in his fourth straight win, and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided a three-game sweep by topping the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 on Sunday.

Christian Bethancourt hit a three-run homer as the Rays rebounded from their first two losses of the season. Yandy Diaz reached four times, and Josh Lowe had two hits and three RBIs.

The Rays have homered at least once in all 16 games this season. Only Seattle (20 games in 2019) has started a season with a longer streak.

McClanahan (4-0) allowed one run and four hits. He struck out six and walked two.

Colin Poche, Garrett Cleavinger and Jason Adam each worked one scoreless inning. Adam closed it out by making a behind-the-back catch on Kevin Kiermaier's liner and throwing to second to double off Santiago Espinal.

Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah (1-1) matched career-worsts by allowing seven runs and nine hits. He walked four and struck out five in 4 2/3 innings.

An All-Star in 2022, Manoah pitched at least five innings in all 32 starts last season, including one in the wild-card round. He has completed the fifth inning just once in four starts this season.

Manoah hit Diaz with his first pitch of the game and loaded the bases before walking Wander Franco on five pitches. Luke Raley and Taylor Walls struck out but Lowe hit a two-run single to shallow center.

The first three Blue Jays reached safely against McClanahan in the bottom of the first, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting an RBI single, but the left-hander retired the next 11 batters in order.

Manoah struck out Franco and Raley to begin the fifth but couldn't finish the inning. Walls walked and stole second, with umpire Lance Barrett's out call overturned after the Rays challenged.

Lowe hit an RBI double, Vidal Brujan singled and Bethancourt followed with his third homer of the season, driving it out with his back knee touching the ground in the batter's box.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: Franco was originally in the lineup at shortstop but was moved to DH after complaining of a stiff shoulder. Walls took over at shortstop.

UP NEXT

Rays: Tampa Bay has not named a starter for Monday's game at Cincinnati. RHP Hunter Greene (0-0, 5.14 ERA) starts for the Reds.

Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 1.35 ERA) starts Monday as the Blue Jays open a three-game series in Houston. RHP Cristian Javier (1-0, 4.24 ERA) goes for the Astros.