Kikuchi strikes out 9 as Blue Jays top MLB-best Rays for 2nd straight game

Yusei Kikuchi had nine strikeouts over six strong innings to lead the Blue Jays to a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Toronto on Saturday.

Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who have won nine of their last 11 games.

The MLB-best Rays opened the season with 13 straight victories before dropping the opener of the three-game series on Friday night. Tampa Bay (13-2) will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon.

Relievers Erik Swanson, Adam Cimber and Jordan Romano of Markham, Ont., finished off the win. Romano gave up three singles before locking down his sixth save of the year.

Toronto (10-5) was rewarded for its aggressiveness on the basepaths in the third inning. Kevin Kiermaier and George Springer pulled off a double-steal and the former came home on a Bo Bichette groundout.

The Blue Jays' outfielders delivered some standout plays to keep Tampa's offence in check in the early going.

Springer made a nice catch on the warning track in right field in the first inning and Daulton Varsho made a diving snag in shallow left field in the fourth.

Another day, another outfield GEM