Streak Snappers: Blue Jays Hand Tampa Bay First Loss of 2023

The Toronto Blue Jays have prevented the Tampa Bay Rays from earning a piece of history. Entering Friday night’s contest at Rogers Centre with a perfect 13-0 record, the Rays were handed their first loss – a 6-3 drubbing – thus negating a new modern-era record for the best start to an MLB season.

14-0 would have done it, but thanks to some quality pitching from starter Jose Berrios, timely offence from the team’s strong bats, and another sensational day at the plate by shortstop Bo Bichette, the Jays walked away with another win and improved their record to 9-5 on the year.

“We wanted to stop that,” Berrios said of Tampa Bay’s winning streak post-game, “and we did.”

Bichette went a perfect 5-for-5 for the second time with the Blue Jays, while recording hit No. 500 in the process. He did so in just 407 games – a franchise-best.

Oh, and he also took over sole possession of first in the Majors with 25 hits to his name. He surpassed teammates Matt Chapman (23 hits) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (22 hits) along the way.

“We can kind of score in any way,” Bichette said post-game. “Baserunning, homers, singles, timely hits. I think we’re just competing. Everybody competes and everybody gives what they’ve got every day. It’s fun to be a part of.”

But it wasn’t just Bichette getting the job done at the plate either. George Springer hit another game-opening leadoff home run, as he moved into a tie with Craig Biggio for third-place all-time with 53 long balls as the leadoff man in the first inning of MLB games.

Kevin Kiermaier, who had spent the entirety of his 10-year MLB career with the Rays up until this point, picked up two base hits in the win. The 32-year-old is currently batt .351 on the season with 13 hits.

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Berrios, who finally put together a well-rounded showing, was forced out of Friday’s game after a fifth-inning comebacker from Yandy Diaz caught him on the inside of his left knee. He retired after 77 pitches, while picking up his first win of the year. The bruise is not expected to keep Berrios out of action, and he will make his next scheduled start, unless things go awry.

“It’s nothing really, really bad; just a little bit of soreness,” he said.

The first test of the three-game series did not come without some tense moments, however. Pulling ahead 6-1 on a combination of questionable relief pitching and fielding errors, the Jays put up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. That lead was cut in half with a set of back-to-back solo jacks in the seventh, but closer Jordan Romano dug his heels in on any dream of a Tampa Bay comeback, as he earned his fifth save of the season.

“Guys are excited to play a big series,” clubhouse manager John Schneider said. “You, obviously, pay attention to what they did the first 13 games and you appreciate that as a baseball fan. They’re a good team. But we’re solely focused on winning the series.”

Having just concluded their third-straight series win, Toronto will be back at it from Rogers Centre on Saturday afternoon as the league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day. Opening pitch is scheduled for 2:07 PM central time, while the third game will go at 12:07 PM on Sunday. Yusei Kikuchi will face Calvin Faucher on the mound Saturday, before Toronto turns to Alek Manoah in a showdown with Shane McClanahan in the series finale.