Jonathan Aranda delivered a key hit to propel the Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night at Rogers Centre. The victory came as Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman reached a career milestone but struggled on the mound.
Gausman reaches 2000 strikeouts
Kevin Gausman acknowledged the crowd after recording his 2000th career strikeout during the fourth inning. However, he allowed five runs on eight hits over four innings, including a home run to Aranda. The right-hander walked two and struck out six, but his outing was marred by inconsistent command.
Aranda's impact
Jonathan Aranda went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, driving in three runs. His two-run homer in the fifth inning off reliever Tim Mayza gave the Rays a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish. Aranda also scored twice and made a key defensive play at first base.
The Rays' offense collected 12 hits, with five players recording multi-hit games. Yandy Diaz added three hits and two RBIs, while Randy Arozarena contributed two hits and a run scored.
Blue Jays rally falls short
Toronto attempted a comeback in the late innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a solo home run in the sixth, and George Springer added an RBI single in the eighth. However, Rays reliever Colin Poche struck out the side in the ninth to secure the win and earn his fifth save.
The Blue Jays fell to 22-18 on the season, while the Rays improved to 24-16.
