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Art Deco · 02-07-2026, 02:11 PM

The Rays returned to action after the All-Star break and didn't miss a beat, taking 3 of 4 in the Great White North.

Led by Rogelio Fitzgerald, the Rays were home run-happy in their first game back as they jarred the Jays 7-1. Fitzgerald's slow start after coming over in the big early-season trade is but a distant memory and he was 3-4 with 2 HR and 4 RBI today, giving him 17 with Tampa Bay and 25 overall. Also going deep with solo shots were Willis Ramirez (#5) and Jeremy Begley (#17). All this support made things comfortable for Danny Morales (10-8), who also continues to turn his season around with today's 7 3 1 1 1 5 outing.

Ruben Cerrillo was brilliant and the Rays got just enough offense to get by Toronto 2-0 in the second game. The stylish lefty improved to 10-3 after a 7 2 0 0 1 5 gem and Eric Lewis completed the team shutout with his 20th save. Jeremy Begley scored both runs, once thanks to himself as he hit another solo homer (#18) and the other when Willis Ramirez singled him home.

The bullpen let Tampa Bay down in the third game as the Jays got the better of them 6-4. Jeremy Begley homered for the third straight day (#19), this time leading off the game, and after they fell behind 3-1 Billy Doughty belted a 2-run blast to tie the game. Unfortunately though Danny Mauricio (4-1), who had given up the third Toronto run, yielded another in the bottom of the 7th and then the Jays scored two more against Walt Kelly in the 8th. Doughty's second homer of the game (#8), a solo shot, completed the scoring. Sebastian Burns turned in another solid start going 5 6 2 2 1 4.

The Rays bounced back to take the finale 8-2 from Toronto, despite managing only six hits. That's because four of those six hits were home runs as they clouted a dozen in the four-game series. After Victor Gonzalez broke the ice with a 2nd-inning solo shot (#24), Willis Ramirez delivered the big blow, a 3rd-inning grand slam (#6) to break the game open. Justin Blackwell added a 2-run bomb (#12) in the 4th and Rogelio Fitzgerald put the cherry on top with his 18th/26th. This made it all fun and games for Brad Paquette (7-6), who went 6.2 7 2 2 1 9 for the win. One sour note though: RF Danny Rivera suffered a severe ankle sprain and will miss 5 weeks.

Team record: 63-28. Next up: Home for a 2-game mini-series against Boston.

02-07-2026, 02:11 PM	#1626
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,697	July 12-15, 2040: at Toronto (4) The Rays returned to action after the All-Star break and didn't miss a beat, taking 3 of 4 in the Great White North. Led by Rogelio Fitzgerald, the Rays were home run-happy in their first game back as they jarred the Jays 7-1. Fitzgerald's slow start after coming over in the big early-season trade is but a distant memory and he was 3-4 with 2 HR and 4 RBI today, giving him 17 with Tampa Bay and 25 overall. Also going deep with solo shots were Willis Ramirez (#5) and Jeremy Begley (#17). All this support made things comfortable for Danny Morales (10-8), who also continues to turn his season around with today's 7 3 1 1 1 5 outing. Ruben Cerrillo was brilliant and the Rays got just enough offense to get by Toronto 2-0 in the second game. The stylish lefty improved to 10-3 after a 7 2 0 0 1 5 gem and Eric Lewis completed the team shutout with his 20th save. Jeremy Begley scored both runs, once thanks to himself as he hit another solo homer (#18) and the other when Willis Ramirez singled him home. The bullpen let Tampa Bay down in the third game as the Jays got the better of them 6-4. Jeremy Begley homered for the third straight day (#19), this time leading off the game, and after they fell behind 3-1 Billy Doughty belted a 2-run blast to tie the game. Unfortunately though Danny Mauricio (4-1), who had given up the third Toronto run, yielded another in the bottom of the 7th and then the Jays scored two more against Walt Kelly in the 8th. Doughty's second homer of the game (#8), a solo shot, completed the scoring. Sebastian Burns turned in another solid start going 5 6 2 2 1 4. The Rays bounced back to take the finale 8-2 from Toronto, despite managing only six hits. That's because four of those six hits were home runs as they clouted a dozen in the four-game series. After Victor Gonzalez broke the ice with a 2nd-inning solo shot (#24), Willis Ramirez delivered the big blow, a 3rd-inning grand slam (#6) to break the game open. Justin Blackwell added a 2-run bomb (#12) in the 4th and Rogelio Fitzgerald put the cherry on top with his 18th/26th. This made it all fun and games for Brad Paquette (7-6), who went 6.2 7 2 2 1 9 for the win. One sour note though: RF Danny Rivera suffered a severe ankle sprain and will miss 5 weeks. Team record: 63-28. Next up: Home for a 2-game mini-series against Boston.