Rays edge Blue Jays 1-0 with Aranda’s homer in Tampa

On Friday night in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, thanks to a sixth-inning home run by Jonathan Aranda. This win was marked by a strong pitching performance from the Rays, who utilized six pitchers to limit the Blue Jays to just five hits throughout the game. Starter Tyler Alexander pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, before Kevin Kelly took over and extended his impressive scoreless streak to 22 innings. José Berríos, the Blue Jays' starting pitcher, suffered a setback as he lost his seven-game winning streak, during which he had maintained a 1.51 ERA. In this game, he allowed one run and six hits while striking out six batters over six innings. Despite the loss, Berríos showcased his skills, but the Rays' offense managed to capitalize on a crucial moment in the sixth inning. The Blue Jays had opportunities to score, with Alejandro Kirk extending his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the sixth. However, they struggled to convert chances into runs, going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Ernie Clement, filling in for the injured Bo Bichette, made notable defensive plays but was ultimately caught trying to advance on a grounder. Looking ahead, the Blue Jays face challenges with injuries, including Bichette's broken finger and Daulton Varsho's upcoming shoulder surgery. The teams are set to continue their series with Yariel Rodríguez and Taj Bradley as the scheduled starters for Saturday's game.