The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night with the help of a three-run homer from catcher Christian Bethancourt. The game was a close one, with both teams putting up a fight until the very end.
Bethancourt’s homer came in the bottom of the fourth inning, with two outs and two runners on base. He hit a 1-1 pitch from Blue Jays starter Hyun Jin Ryu over the left-center field wall, giving the Rays a 3-0 lead.
The homer was a big moment for Bethancourt, who has been struggling at the plate this season. He entered the game with just one hit in 14 at-bats, but he made the most of his opportunity on Tuesday night.
After the game, Bethancourt spoke about his homer and what it meant to him. “It feels great to contribute to the team in a big way like that,” he said. “I’ve been working hard to get my swing back on track, and it’s nice to see some results.”
The Rays were also helped by a strong performance from their pitching staff. Starter Rich Hill went six innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six. Relievers Jeffrey Springs, Diego Castillo, and Pete Fairbanks combined to pitch three scoreless innings to close out the game.
The Blue Jays made things interesting in the ninth inning, scoring two runs off Rays closer Andrew Kittredge. But Kittredge was able to get out of the jam and secure the win for Tampa Bay.
With the win, the Rays improved to 5-6 on the season, while the Blue Jays fell to 4-6. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday night for the second game of their three-game series.
Overall, it was a solid win for the Rays, who have struggled to find consistency early in the season. Bethancourt’s homer was a big moment, and the pitching staff did a great job of keeping the Blue Jays at bay. If they can continue to play like this, the Rays should be able to climb back into the playoff race in the highly competitive American League East.
