Taj Bradley continued his impressive performance by keeping his scoreless streak at 23 innings, winning his fifth game in a row. Brandon Lowe hit a home run into the upper deck, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 13-0 on Thursday.
Isaac Paredes contributed four RBIs, and Alex Jackson added three RBIs as the Rays scored the most runs they’ve had this season and won their 18th game out of the last 30.
Lowe had a perfect game at bat, going 4 for 4 with three RBIs and drawing two walks, coming close to hitting for the cycle. Amed Rosario also had three hits for the Rays, who have now won 13 games in a row when they score four or more runs.
Bradley (6-4) gave up two hits over six innings, struck out seven batters, and walked one, improving his record to 5-1 with a 0.82 ERA in his last nine starts.
“He’s put himself in an elite category this year,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “I don’t know how many other pitchers have been on a run like that.”
The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher has not lost since June 8 against Baltimore.
“I’m just throwing all my pitches for strikes,” Bradley said. “I feel like you keep them guessing. They have a heater that they’re looking for, but then the other two pitches tunnel off of it really well.”
Bradley joined Ryan Yarbrough, Jake Odorizzi, and Alex Cobb as the only Rays pitchers to have three consecutive starts with six or more shutout innings.
“Arguably the best pitcher in the league right now,” said Lowe about Bradley. “The last eight or nine starts, I don’t think there’s another pitcher that touches him.”
Edwin Uceta and Colin Poche finished the game with no hits allowed in relief, marking the Rays’ sixth shutout and their fourth against Toronto this season.
Infielder Ernie Clement pitched the ninth inning for the Blue Jays.
Spencer Horwitz hit a double in the first inning, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got on base with an infield single, but Bradley then struck out Justin Turner and Daulton Varsho, beginning a streak of 11 consecutive outs.
