From streaking to losing, the Tampa Bay Rays suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory.
Both teams showed a flair for outfield brilliance Saturday in a matchup at the Rogers Centre that felt more like a late-season game than a mid-April meeting.
The win was the Jays’ ninth in their past 11 games and they will try for a sweep of the Rays on Sunday afternoon.
More than anything, the Jays have shown they can match Tampa pitch for pitch and hit for hit. But it was the Jays’ bottom of the order that did most of the damage on Saturday. Toronto’s only extra-base hit came courtesy of Whit Merrifield, who batted seventh, while Danny Jansen, who turned 28, had two hits batting in the No. 8 hole.
“It’s just his conviction,’’ said manager John Schneider post-game when breaking down his lefty’s outing. “He was on the attack. He’s pitching with a lot of confidence.”
For Kikuchi, his renaissance with the Blue Jays began in spring training when he showed signs of turning the page from last year’s disappointment.
Even to the most inexperienced baseball eyes, it was easy to see the extra pep in his step.
“He has a different way about him this year,’’ added Schneider. “The work he put in (during the off-season) and the spring he had have carried over (into the regular season). He’s confident and a confident pitcher is dangerous.”
“Danny called a great game,’’ the pitcher said.
Jordan Romano gave up hits to the first two batters he faced in the ninth. And after recording a strikeout, he yielded a third hit to load the bases, then got a second strikeout.
Romano then took a hard-hit comebacker from hot-hitting Wander Franco off his right rib, but recovered to make the throw to first that Vlad Guerrero Jr., had to go high to spear and swipe tag the base-runner for the final out.
“He’s doing OK,’’ said Schneider of Romano, who earned his league-best sixth save. “He was moving around quite well. I’m glad he made the throw to first.
GAMUT OF EMOTIONS
Fans were treated to a defensive gem when left fielder Daulton Varsho left his feet to make a great catch in the fourth inning on a rocket stroked by Harold Ramirez.
But on the first pitch to the next Rays batter, Taylor Walls, fans went from delirium to disappointment as the ball sailed over the wall to tie the game, 1-1.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Jays pulled off a double steal after Jansen began the third by beating out a ground ball deep in the hole.
In the previous inning, Jansen took consecutive foul tips to an area no player welcomes, dare we say.
