ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jeremy Hellickson allowed one hit in seven shutout innings and rookie Wil Myers homered in his home debut, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Blue Jays 4-1 on Monday night to end Toronto’s 11-game winning streak.
Myers, a former Northwest Arkansas Natural, hit the second of three consecutive Tampa Bay home runs in the second inning, connecting in his first at-bat at Tropicana Field. He received a standing ovation from a crowd of 11,407 getting its initial close-up view of the key acquisition in the off season trade that sent pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City for the power-hitting right fielder and other prospects.
Myers’ drive to center off Esmil Rogers (3-3) was sandwiched between home runs by James Loney and Sam Fuld as Tampa Bay went deep three times within a span of eight pitches. Luke Scott added a bloop RBI double to make it 4-0 in the third, and that was all the support Hellickson needed.
A night after scoring a season-high 13 runs at home to complete a three-game sweep of Baltimore, the Blue Jays were limited to four singles and five walks. They came up short in their bid to extend the longest winning streak in the majors since Detroit won 12 consecutive in 2011.
Hellickson (6-3) gave up J.P. Arencibia’s single, walked four and struck out four. He allowed only one runner past first base - in the second inning, when Colby Rasmus walked and moved to third when Arencibia followed with his hit to center field.
The Blue Jays stranded Rasmus,who drew three of Toronto’s five walks, when Maicer Izturis grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Toronto finally broke through in the eighth when it loaded the bases with one out against Alex Torres with two singles and a walk. Jose Bautista grounded into a force play to drive in a run before Edwin Encarnacion flied out to end the threat.
Fernando Rodney worked the ninth for the Rays, earning his 16th save in 21 opportunities.
The Blue Jays’ longest winning streak in nearly 15 years matched the best in club history. They also won 11 consecutive in 1987 and 1998.
The Rays began the day last in the AL East, one percentage point behind the surging Blue Jays, who gained seven games on Tampa Bay during their winning streak.
Despite the loss, Toronto has won 15 of 19 while outscoring opponents 103-57 to get back into the division race led by the Boston Red Sox.
Loney, Myers and Fuld went deep off Rogers with one out in the second, just the second time in franchise history - first at Tropicana Field - that Tampa Bay has hit three consecutive home runs. Evan Longoria, Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro did it on June 9, 2008, against the Los Angeles Angels.
Myers made his major league debut in Boston at the start of a seven-game road trip that ended Sunday. He hit a grand slam off CC Sabathia for his first home run during a loss last Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
INDIANS 5, ORIOLES 2 Michael Brantley homered and had four RBI, and visiting Cleveland beat Baltimore for its ninth victory in 12 games. Brantley put the Indians ahead with a two-run single in the sixth inning and made it 5-2 with a two-run shot in the eighth off Darren O’Day. His four RBI tied a career high, reached twice previously. Nick Swisher had two hits and scored a run for the Indians, and former Oriole Mark Reynolds went 1 for 2 with two walks. The victory improved Cleveland’s record against the AL East to 7-17 and provided an uplifting start to an 11-game road trip. Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings and Vinnie Pestano, the fourth Indians reliever, worked the ninth for his fourth save. Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters homered for the Orioles, who have lost four consecutive. Zach Britton (1-2) allowed only two hits through five innings and took a 2-0 lead into the sixth before faltering. Jason Kipnis led off with a double and scored on a single by Swisher. Carlos Santana followed with a double to put runners at second and third, and after Reynolds received an intentional walk, Brantley grounded a single up the middle to chase Britton. Brantley iced it in the eighth with his fifth home run after a lead off single by Reynolds.
Monday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE Philadelphia at San Diego, (n) San Francisco at LA Dodgers, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE Cleveland 5, Baltimore 2 Tampa Bay 4, Toronto 1
Sports, Pages 18 on 06/25/2013