Bichette HRs, drives in 5; Ray fans 13 as Jays beat Rays 6-3

TORONTO (AP) — Bo Bichette homered and matched his career-high with five RBIs, Robbie Ray fanned 13 over seven innings to claim the major league strikeout lead and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 Wednesday.

Vladimr Guerrero Jr. doubled twice and scored twice, and Teoscar Hernández added an RBI single. The Blue Jays improved to 13-2 in September to move ahead of Boston and the New York Yankees for the top AL wild card before those teams play later Wednesday.

“We’re showing everybody who we are,” Bichette said.

Tampa Bay lost for the fifth time in seven games. The AL East leaders are 6-8 in September after going 21-6 in August.

Ray (12-5) allowed one run and four hits to win his fourth straight decision. The left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 91 strikeouts since his last loss, July 21 against Boston.

“Early on, the fastball was electric,” Ray said. “I felt like it was getting on guys, I was able to pound guys with it.”

Ray allowed leadoff doubles in the second and fourth but didn’t allow a run until Mike Zunino homered to begin the fifth. The homer was Zunino’s 30th.

Ray left to a standing ovation after striking out Jordan Luplow to end the seventh. He raised his season total to 233 strikeouts, passing Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (224) and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler (225).

“It’s tough to make an argument that that’s not the best fastball going right now in the American League,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said of Ray. “For the most part, he’s going to come at you with fastballs and pound the zone. And when it’s there, there’s really not a ton you can do with it.”

Ray didn’t walk a batter and threw 101 pitches, 75 strikes. He has struck out 10 or more batters in five of his past six outings. His 11.2...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bichette-HRs-drives-in-5-Ray-fans-13-as-Jays-16462543.php