Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays beat Rays 5-1 to stay atop AL East, sending division race to season's final day

Toronto can clinch the division title and the best record in the AL by matching or beating the New York Yankees’ outcome against the Orioles in Sunday’s regular season finale.

The Blue Jays came into Saturday tied with the Yankees in the East. Toronto holds the tiebreaker after winning eight of 13 meetings.

New York’s 6-1 win over Baltimore meant the Blue Jays couldn’t clinch the AL East with a win. The Yankees have won seven straight and 10 of 11.

Ernie Clement had two hits, two RBI and scored twice as the Blue Jays improved to an AL-best 53-27 at home. Toronto is 70-4 when it scores five or more.

Yesavage (1-0) allowed five hits, four singles, and walked two. He threw 94 pitches, the most of his brief professional career. Yesavage threw 89 pitches in his final appearance at Double-A on Aug. 8.

Rays right-hander Joe Boyle (1-4) allowed four runs and five hits in five innings, his fourth straight losing decision.

Clement hit a two-out, two-run double in the second inning and Andrés Giménez followed with an RBI single.

Kirk homered into the second deck to begin the seventh, his 13th, connecting on Garrett Cleavinger’s first pitch.

Jonathan Aranda homered for the second straight game for Tampa Bay. Aranda, who was activated off the injured list Friday, homered off Yariel Rodríguez to open the sixth, his 14th.

Key moment Yesavage caught Aranda looking at strike three to leave the bases loaded in the third.

Key stat Rays DH Yandy Díaz raised his average to .300 by going 1 for 2 before being replaced by Bob Seymour in the fifth.

Up next RHP Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.47 ERA) will pitch for the Blue Jays in Sunday’s pivotal finale. LHP Ian Seymour (4-2, 2.85) is scheduled for the Rays.

How can I watch Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays?

• TV Channel: Rays at Blue Jays 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on MLB.TV.
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