Turner homers, drives in four as Blue Jays split series with Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Justin Turner homered and drove in four runs as the Toronto Blue Jays gained a spit of a four-game series by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Sunday,

After winning the opener 8-1 on Thursday, the Blue Jays were outscored 13-3 in losing the next two games. Toronto is 20-35 in road games against Tampa Bay since the start of the 2018 season.

“Everyone kind of doing their part a little bit whether it was working on a walk or getting a big hit, so that’s kind of that’s kind of what we’re shooting for,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

Randy Arozarena homered for the Rays. He also went deep in Saturday’s 5-1 win.

Tampa Bay pitchers walked eight.

“It just wasn't our day on the mound,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Toronto ace Kevin Gausman, on a pitch count after not making his spring training debut until March 25 because of shoulder fatigue, allowed one run, two hits and struck out six in 4 ⅓ innings. The right-hander threw 48 of 69 pitches for strikes.

“The first big league game I’ve been in where I had a pitch count, so it’s a little weird to kind of know that but I thought we did a good job of getting where we got with the pitches that we had,” Gausman said.

Gausman will increase his pitch total to 80-85 in his next start.

“He was great, about as efficient and effective as we could have hoped for," Schneider said.

Nate Pearson finished the fifth and Mitch White (1-0) followed with three hitless innings. Chad Green allowed Isaac Paredes' homer in the ninth, then complete a three-hitter before a crowd of just 14,875.

Toronto took a 4-1 lead on Turner’s two-run double off Tyler Alexander in the second. Turner had an RBI single during a two-run first against opener Shawn Armstrong (0-1).

“I felt really good today,” Turner said. “I made some small adjustments in the last couple of days just trying to get comfortable again and shortened up my leg kick a little bit. Had a lot better timing, today.”

Turner added a solo shot and Davis Schneider had a two-run drive to make it 7-1 in the fifth.

Alexander, who didn’t pitch after July 2 last season due to a left lat strain, gave up five runs and six hits over five innings.

Cavan Biggio hit an RBI single in a two-run seventh.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette was a late scratch with neck spasms. He received treatment during the game and is day to day.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Bowden Francis (0-0) will face Houston RHP Ronel Blanco (0-0) Monday night as the Blue Jays continue a season-opening 10-game trip.

Rays: RHP Ryan Pepiot (0-0), acquired in a trade that sent Tampa Bay ace Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers in December, makes his Rays’ debut Monday night against Texas RHP Dane Dunning (0-0). The Rangers outscored Tampa Bay 11-1 in sweeping a two-game Wild Card Series en route to the 2023 title.

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