Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Santiago Espinal and Teoscar Hernandez hit two-run homers on Thursday, guiding the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hernandez has three of nine hits for the Jays, who have won three of their last four games.
The right fielder moved to a triple from the carousel.
Hernandez is on eight home runs this season, two more than Espinal.
Isaac Paredes hit the long ball for the Rays, who were losing a third straight game.
Yusei Kikuchi delivered his first quality start in over a month, while Adam Cimber picked up a fourth save.
Kikuchi (3-4) allowed one run and four hits in six innings.
He walked only one and struck out eight (a season high for him) en route to his first win since May 16. His rapid was a hit and his slippery was efficient.
“I’m very happy to have been able to contribute, said Kikuchi, with the help of an interpreter. It felt good to pitch for a long time.”
In his last three starts, the Japanese had offered only four, four and two sets of work.
Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman was outstanding in the sixth and seventh.
In the sixth, he started a double play on an awkward ground ball then retired Randy Arozarena with a powerful throw to first base on an even more difficult ground ball.
In the seventh, he caught a foul ball from Francisco Mejia far from his goal, ending the Rays’ turn at bat.
There was a runner on third base, and the Jays were only up 2-1.
“He’s one of the elite in major league baseball on defense,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. He can have a very big impact in the course of a match.
Ryan Yarbrough (0-4) allowed four runs and eight hits in five and a third innings.
Friday’s starting pitchers will be Corey Kluber and Jose Berrios. The game will start at 3:07 p.m.
