Nathan Lukes smacked a two-run home run and George Springer crossed home plate twice to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday evening. Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber, with a record of 4-2, pitched effectively for five innings as Toronto (92-68) reduced its magic number to clinch the American League East Division title to two.
In the fifth inning, Lukes hit a crucial homer, breaking the tie with Springer on base, against pitcher Adrian Houser (8-5) for his 12th home run of the season. Despite the Rays having runners in scoring position in the ninth inning, Jeff Hoffman managed to retire Yandy Diaz on a groundout, securing his 33rd save in 40 opportunities.
Toronto is currently tied with New York at the top of the division standings, as the Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8-4 on the same night. Any combination of Toronto wins or New York losses totaling two will see the Blue Jays clinch the East crown.
The Blue Jays will hold the tiebreaker if they finish the regular season with the same record as the Yankees. The division champion will earn a bye to the division series, while the second-place team will compete in the wild-card series.
Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda hit consecutive solo home runs off Bieber in the second inning. Bieber allowed five hits, two walks, and recorded three strikeouts. The Rays (77-83) have now lost 14 of their last 20 games, with an announced attendance of 42,184.
Prior to the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider reassured fans that there were no structural concerns with Jose Berrios’s injured right elbow. Berrios is seeking a second opinion before determining the next course of action.
In the game, Toronto capitalized on scoring opportunities early on, driving in runs in the first two innings. This was a positive sign for the offense, which has faced challenges in recent games. Aranda made an impactful return to the lineup after a lengthy absence due to a left wrist fracture, hitting his 13th home run of the season.
A standout moment was Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez’s spectacular defensive play in the sixth inning, making a sliding catch on a Josh Lowe blooper. Toronto improved to a 52-27 record at Rogers Centre this season, tying with the Seattle Mariners for the best home record in the American League.
Looking ahead, Blue Jays rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage (0-0, 5.00 ERA) was set to make his third major league start on Saturday afternoon, while Joe Boyle (1-3, 4.40) was scheduled to start for the Rays.