The Tampa Bay Rays (13-1) fell to the Toronto Blue Jays (9-5) 6-3 on Friday evening at Tropicana Field. The loss ends the Rays historic winning streak to begin a season at 13.
George Springer hit a solo homer in the first, and Bo Bichette hit a RBI ground-rule double in the second, to give Toronto an early 2-0 lead. Luke Raley drove in a run in the fourth to pull within 2-1, but that was as close as the Rays would get.
The Blue Jays erupted in the fifth with a four-run inning thanks to two bases loaded walks and two runners scoring following an error on Brandon Lowe.
In the seventh Josh Lowe and Christian Bethancourt both hit solo home runs to pull within 6-3, which would prove to be the final score.
Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.60) took the first loss of the season after allowing five earned runs on eight hits in just four and one-third inning of work where he struck out five and walked one. Colin Poche gave up back-to-back bases loaded walks in the fifth inning before giving way to Yonny Chirinos, who worked the final three and two-thirds innings of the game.
The Rays and Blue Jays meet in the second game of the three game series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch from the Rogers Centre in Toronto is scheduled for 3:07 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 2:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES