Diaz’s three-run homer powers Rays past Blue Jays

Yandy Diaz had a three-run homer in the second inning and the Tampa Bay Rays never looked back in a 11-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon.

TORONTO – Yandy Diaz had a three-run homer in the second inning and the Tampa Bay Rays never looked back in a 11-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon.

René Pinto had an RBI single as part of Tampa’s four-run second. Isaac Paredes added a solo home run in the seventh and drove in another run during a rally in the ninth.

Shane McClanahan (12-5) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out five. JT Chargois, Jason Adam, Javy Guerra and Kevin Herget closed out the game for Tampa (80-63).

Bo Bichette had two hits, including a double, and a stolen base for Toronto (81-63).

Kevin Gausman (12-10) allowed five runs on six hits but struck out seven and issued only one walk. Zach Pop, Trevor Richards, and David Phelps came out of the bullpen for the Blue Jays, with Richards getting charged for five runs and Phelps one.

Although Toronto won the five-game series with the Rays 3-2, Thursday’s loss cut the Blue Jays’ lead over Tampa in the American League’s wild-card race to a half game. The Seattle Mariners hold the other wild-card berth.

Toronto welcomes the division-rival Orioles to Rogers Centre on Friday for a three-game series. Baltimore is chasing the Blue Jays, Rays, and Mariners for a wild-card spot.

Pinto got Tampa Bay on the board in the second when his centre-field single scored David Peralta and advanced Paredes to third. The Blue Jays challenged the play, arguing that Paredes should have been ruled out after he lost his balance on the bag as Toronto third baseman Matt Chapman applied the tag.