Ray fans 10, Blue Jays finish 3-game sweep of struggling A's

TORONTO (AP) — Robbie Ray struck out 10 while pitching one-hit ball into the seventh inning, Marcus Semien hit his 35th home run and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Oakland Athletics 8-0 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Bo Bichette went 4 for 4, scored twice and drove in a run and Alejandro Kirk homered as the Blue Jays reached double figures in hits for the fourth straight game.

Winners of seven of eight, the Blue Jays (73-62) are a season-best 11 games above .500. Toronto’s 13 shutouts are most in the AL.

Ray (11-5) reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth straight start, the first Blue Jays pitcher to achieve the feat. The only hit he allowed in 6 2-3 innings was a one-out double by Khris Davis in the fifth.

Ray’s 2.60 ERA is tops among AL pitchers.

“He’s probably the best pitcher in baseball right now, from what I’ve seen,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “When he takes that mound, everybody feels he’s going to give you a chance.”

The left-handed Ray has 212 strikeouts this season, second to New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (215) in the majors.

“The fastball was really good today,” Ray said. “I had command of it on both sides of the plate. I felt like it had an extra gear to it today. I leaned heavy on that.”

Both Ray and Cole have nine double-digit strikeout games, tied for the big league lead.

Ray had victories in back-to-back starts for the first time since winning at Tampa Bay on July 11 and beating Texas on July 16.

The playoff-contending A’s have lost 14 of 20 after winning 12 of the previous 15. Still, Oakland manager Bob Melvin expects his team to bounce back.

“I think the best part of our season is yet to come,” Melvin said. “I think we’re going to get home and we’re going to play...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Ray-fans-10-Blue-Jays-finish-3-game-sweep-of-16437428.php