Randy Arozarena homered and drove in two runs to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
Right-hander Zack Littell (1-0) allowed four singles in six scoreless innings for the Rays, who won the last two games against the Jays after losing by six runs in the opener against their rivals. from Eastern America.
Arozarena, who was invited to the All-Star Game for the first time last year, hit a single against starter Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) in the third inning, before propelling the ball over the fence in the fifth.
“It always makes me happy to sign autographs for kids, because you never know, it could be their dream and they can identify with me,” Arozarena commented through his interpreter.
“I hope one day they can make it to the big leagues and be like me.” »
The game was delayed briefly when the benches emptied in the bottom of the seventh, after Blue Jays reliever Genesis Cabrera shoved Jose Caballero.
Tempers flared when Caballero hit a single to push Arozarena to the plate. He went around the first two cushions to get to the third thanks to an error by Justin Turner, who was trying to remove him at the first. Springer threw a throw to Bo Bichette who retired Caballero to end the inning.
Cabrera, who was covering Bichette’s back, made slight contact with Caballero. The two players exchanged a few words and the thrower pushed his opponent. No punches were subsequently thrown, but the pitcher was ejected by the umpires.
“I play baseball, I don’t want any problems with anyone,” Caballero commented. I didn’t want it to go any further. »
“I saw the ball near the bullpen and I started running,” Caballero said. I saw the instructor who motioned for me to go to the third floor. When I got to the third, I saw Bichette with the ball, so I gave up. I slowed down and Cabrera came out of nowhere and hit me.
“I just asked him: ‘why did you push me?’ He didn’t say a word and pushed me again. »
After solo home runs by Vladimir Guerrero, George Springer and Cavan Biggio in the 8-2 victory at Tropicana Field, Toronto was held to three runs over the next two games.
Kikuchi, who had a career-high 11 wins last year, allowed three earned runs, three walks and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four batters in his first start of the campaign.
2024-03-30 23:45:49
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