PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays pounced on Toronto starter Anthony Kay early, then held on to defeat the Blue Jays 9-5 on Wednesday in Grapefruit League spring training
Tampa Bay scored four runs in the first inning off Kay, and added four more in the sixth to squash a Blue Jays comeback bid.
Kay, a 24-year-old left-hander acquired by the Blue Jays last season in the trade that sent Marcus Stroman to the New York Mets, lasted just 1/3 of an inning. He allowed one hit but walked four.
Bo Bichette hit a bases-clearing triple in the top of the third inning for Toronto, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove in another run on a double to cut the deficit to 5-4. Bichette had two hits, one walk and a stolen base.
Patrick Kivlehan added a run for the Blue Jays on a ninth-inning solo homer.
All four of Tampa's sixth-inning runs came with Toronto reliever Patrick Murphy on the mound. Three runs were earned.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow earned the win for the Rays. He allowed two hits and struck out three over 1 2/3 innings.
The Blue Jays open the regular season at home March 26 against the Boston Red Sox.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2020.
The Canadian Press
