Randy Arozarena hit a home run and brought in two runs, and after his solo shot, he happily signed autographs for fans upon returning to the dugout. This helped lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
“It makes me happy to be able to sign autographs for the kids because you never know, it could be their dream and they can identify with me there,” the All-Star outfielder said through a translator. “Hopefully one day they can make it to the major leagues as well and do the same.”
Right-hander Zack Littell (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only four singles, for the Rays, who’ve won two straight after losing by six runs to their AL East rivals on opening day.
Arozarena, a first-time All-Star a year ago, had an RBI single off Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) in the third inning, then hit a home run against the Toronto starter in the fifth. Littell walked two and struck out six while only allowing just one runner past second base in a 90-pitch outing.
The game was briefly delayed when benches cleared at the end of the seventh inning after Blue Jays reliever Génesis Cabrera exchanged words with Tampa Bay’s José Caballero and shoved the shortstop, who had been tagged out at third base, to end the inning.
“I’m just playing baseball… I don’t want any problems with anyone,” Caballero said. “I didn’t want it to go farther than what it was. Unfortunately, he didn’t think the same way.”
Since getting solo homers from Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., George Springer and Cavan Biggio in an 8-2 season-opening win at Tropicana Field, Toronto has been held to just three runs over the next two games — one of them on Springer’s second homer.
The Blue Jays gave themselves a chance to get back in the game in the seventh, when Daulton Varsho drew a leadoff walk and Ernie Clement singled off reliever Colin Poche. Biggio’s two-out single trimmed Toronto’s deficit to 3-1 before Phil Maton came on to get Springer to fly to center to end the threat.
Kikuchi, who won a career-high 11 games last season, yielded three runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings. He had a pair of two-out walks that set the stage for Arozarena to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead with his run-scoring single. Arozarena’s opposite-field homer to right made it 2-0 in the fifth. Caballero’s sacrifice fly drove in a third run off Kikuchi.
Cabrera was ejected after shoving Caballero, who drove in a run with a bunt single and continued to run when third baseman Justin Turner threw wildly past first base on the play. Springer ran down the errant throw and threw to shortstop Bo Bichette, who easily tagged Caballero out at third base.
Cabrera, who was backing up third, and Caballero came together and exchanged words before the pitcher shoved the Rays shortstop. Teammates spilled out of each dugout, however no punches were thrown.
