The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) 8-2 on Opening Day at Tropicana Field. The Rays are now 14-13 on Opening Days in their 27-year history.
Yandy Diaz hit the first home run of the season in the first for Tampa Bay to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. George Springer answered with a solo shot in the fourth to tie the game 1-1.
The Blue Jays broke it open in the sixth inning. Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both hit solo homers to make it 3-1, before Alejandro Kirk and Kevin Kiermaier each came through with RBI hits to make it 6-1. Yandy Diaz hit a RBI double in the sixth to pull within 6-2, before Bo Bichette hit a two-run double to make it 8-2.
Zach Eflin (0-1, 9.53) got the start and allowed six earned runs on six hits in five and two-thirds innings of work. He struck out five and walked one before giving way to the bullpen. Jose Berrios (1-0, 3.00) got the start for the Blue Jays and allowed two earned runs on six hits in his six innings of work.
The Rays will look to bounce back and even the opening series with the Blue Jays on Friday night. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:50 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at 5:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES