The Tampa Bay Rays may have bottomed out, but there are nights when they hardly look like it.
The Rays, who entered the game as the American League’s last-place team, took it out on the Toronto Blue Jays in a 9-2 victory. The win, coupled with Minnesota’s loss to Houston, allowed the Rays to move back to next-to-last.
Tampa Bay had one of its better nights. Starting pitcher Drew Smyly threw his fourth straight quality start for the win, giving up only two runs in six innings.
But the Rays’ pitching has been good lately. Since the all-star break, the Rays’ starters are leading the majors with a 2.46 ERA and are second in strikeouts.
Ah, but the hitting was something unusual. The Rays had 14 hits, including three each by Logan Forsythe and Evan Longoria. Kevin Kiermaier, Brad Miller, Steven Souza and Luke Maile all had two.
“We know we’re capable of more offensively,” said manager Kevin Cash. “More with runners on base.”
The Rays send Blake Snell to the mound tonight against 15-game winner J.A. Happ.
