Nathan Lukes hit a two-run homer and George Springer scored twice as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber (4-2) was effective over five innings as Toronto (92-68) trimmed its magic number to clinch the American League East Division title to two.<\/p>\n
With Springer aboard in the fifth inning, Lukes hit a tiebreaking blast off Adrian Houser (8-5) for his 12th homer of the season.<\/p>\n
The Rays had runners in scoring position in the ninth inning but Jeff Hoffman got Yandy Diaz on a groundout to end the game for his 33rd save in 40 opportunities,<\/p>\n
Toronto are tied with New York atop the division standings. The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8-4 on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Any combination of Toronto victories or New York losses that adds up to two will give the Blue Jays the East crown.<\/p>\n
The Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker if the teams finish the regular season on Sunday with the same record. The East champion will get a bye to the division series while the second-place team will play in the wild-card series.<\/p>\n
Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda hit back-to-back solo shots off Bieber in the second inning. He allowed five hits, two walks and had three strikeouts.<\/p>\n
The Rays (77-83) have dropped 14 of their last 20 games. Announced attendance was 42,184.<\/p>\n
Before the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said there were no structural issues with Jose Berrios’s injured right elbow. The right-hander plans to get a second opinion before next steps are confirmed.<\/p>\n
Takeaways<\/p>\n
Blue Jays: Toronto put runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings and cashed them in both times. It was a welcome sign for an offence that has struggled at times over the last week.<\/p>\n
Rays: Aranda didn’t miss a beat in his return to the lineup after missing nearly two months with a left wrist fracture. A first-time all-star this season, Aranda’s home run was his 13th of the year.<\/p>\n
Key moment<\/p>\n
Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez showed off his range in the sixth inning. He raced into shallow left field to make a sliding catch on a Josh Lowe blooper.<\/p>\n
Key stat<\/p>\n
Toronto improved to 52-27 at Rogers Centre this season. The Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners started the day tied for the best home record in the American League.<\/p>\n
Coming up<\/p>\n
Blue Jays rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage (0-0, 5.00 earned-run average) was scheduled to make his third big-league start on Saturday afternoon. Joe Boyle (1-3, 4.40) was tabbed to start for the Rays.
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