Rays bullpen dominates again in 7-1 win over Blue Jays

© Provided by Associated Press Tampa Bay Rays’ Austin Meadows, left, hits a bases-loaded two-run single off Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah, center, during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 9, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.(AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Three Tampa Bay relievers combined on five more scoreless innings, Ji-Man Choi drove in three runs and the Rays won their fifth consecutive game, 7-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

© Provided by Associated Press Tampa Bay Rays’ Ji-Man Choi holds his leg after he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded by Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 9, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.(AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Andrew Kittredge (6-1) and Jeffrey Springs each worked two perfect innings, with Springs striking out five. J.P. Feyereisen allowed a one-out single in the ninth to Randal Grichuk before completing a five-hitter.

© Provided by Associated Press Tampa Bay Rays’ Mike Zunino (10) and Brett Phillips celebrate as they score on Austin Meadows’ two-run single off Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 9, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.(AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Five Rays relievers went seven hitless innings during a bullpen day in a 4-0 win over Cleveland in Game 2 of a doubleheader Wednesday.

Choi was hit by a pitch around the left knee with the bases loaded in the fourth and made it 5-1 with a sixth-inning two-run single. He also fouled a ball sharply off his right foot before drawing a walk during the third.

Blue Jays rookie Alek Manoah went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, three hits, three walks, hitting two batters and striking out nine during an 88-pitch outing. The right-hander was coming off a start July 2 in which he had 10 strikeouts and limited the Rays to three hits over seven scoreless innings in an 11-1 win.

Austin Meadows flared a two-out, two-run single to right in the third that put the Rays up 2-1.

Taylor Walls had a two-run double in the seventh for Tampa Bay.

Rays starter Shane McClanahan allowed a two-out, RBI single to George Springer in the third. The lefty avoided a pair of big innings by getting a two-out bases-loaded grounder from Grichuk in the first and striking him out with two on to end the third.

McClanahan lasted four innings, throwing a career-high 91 pitches. The rookie gave up one run, four hits, three walks and struck out five.

© Provided by Associated Press Toronto Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette beats the throw to Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino to score on George Springer’s RBI-single during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 9, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.(AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

PARTIAL BLACKOUT

Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier was in the process of swinging when a bank of lights went out in the seventh. After the umpires met, it was decided that Kiermaier’s foul ball at the plate would count. He eventually walked.

© Provided by Associated Press Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 9, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.(AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

BULLPEN STANDBY

Blue Jays LHP Steven Matz, who had his scheduled start Sunday pushed back to after the All-Star break following Thursday’s rainout at Baltimore, will be available as a reliever this weekend.

ODDITY

The Rays started play with an AL-best 3.55 ERA but don’t have an All-Star pitcher for the first time since 2009.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: LHP Ryan Borucki (forearm) could pitch in his second minor league game Saturday. … OF Corey Dickerson (left foot) is no longer using a walking boot.

Rays: RHPs Chris Archer (forearm) and Oliver Drake (right flexor) are throwing live BP and could soon start rehab assignments. … RHP Ryan Thompson (shoulder) was shut down from playing catch for a few days. … INF Mike Brosseau (oblique) went on the 10-day IL.

UP NEXT

Toronto RHP Ross Stripling (3-4) and Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (5-3) are Saturday’s starters.

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