Chandler Simpson made a defensive gem that saved two runs and later produced the tiebreaking RBI, and the Tampa Bay Rays edged the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Simpson, who went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run, lined a single to center to break a 1-all tie in the seventh as the Rays (74-78) broke a three-game losing streak and won for the first time in the four-game series.
Yandy Diaz was 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI, and Carson Williams doubled and scored the game-winning run.
In his fourth career start, Ian Seymour (4-2) was outstanding in allowing just one unearned run and four hits over a career-high seven innings and 100 pitches. He struck out three, walked one and dropped his ERA to 2.54.
Ernie Clement went 2-for-3 for the American League East-leading Blue Jays (89-63), who managed only four hits and lost for the first time in seven games.
Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman went six innings and allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
The Rays started out in the first inning like they did in Monday’s opener in the major league debut against Toronto’s top prospect Trey Yesavage — getting two hits right away from Simpson (double) and Diaz (single) and going up 1-0. That snapped Gausman’s 15-inning scoreless streak.
Toronto evened it in the fourth on Alejandro Kirk’s long sacrifice fly, but it could have been much worse. Playing center field, Simpson raced back and leaped high to keep the drive in the yard, snagging Kirk’s potential three-run homer.
Gausman and Seymour were stellar after allowing their solo markers, and the pair engaged in the series’ second pitchers’ duel through six innings.
Toronto reliever Yariel Rodriguez (2-2) got the first two outs in the seventh, but Williams’ double and Simpson’s single made it 2-1 for Tampa Bay.
After Edwin Uceta’s perfect eighth, closer Pete Fairbanks notched his 27th save by retiring Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kirk and Ty France in order in the ninth.
