Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson drove in the winning run in a three-hit performance and robbed a potential three-run homer on Wednesday.
For an encore, he’ll try to lead the Rays to a split of their four-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon.
Simpson was a one-man wrecking crew on a night in which not much wrecking went on, The Rays (74-78) and rookie left-hander Ian Seymour limited the American League East-leading Blue Jays (89-63) to four hits and one unearned run in a 2-1 win.
Starting in center field after playing in left the first two games, the speedy Simpson ran down Alejandro Kirk’s fly ball in the fourth inning and prevented it from going out for a three-run homer.
Simpson added another game-changing moment in the seventh when he drove in Carson Williams with a two-out single for the go-ahead run.
“I’ve just been able to stay level throughout the whole process, lots of ups and down, especially at this high level,” said Simpson, who is hitting .296. “I just try to be level-headed.”
Yandy Diaz stayed hot and is 7-for-9 with five walks in the series, while Junior Caminero (mid-back tightness) left after the sixth inning.
With Cleveland’s 4-0 win over Detroit, Toronto’s magic number for the postseason sits at three, and manager John Schneider said he is trying to balance workload with winning.
“You’re trying to cast forward a little bit without getting too far ahead of yourself,” Schneider said, “and making sure everyone has the appropriate rest, has the appropriate time to prepare.”
Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (11-8, 3.90 ERA) will make his 31st start of the season on Thursday.
While Bassitt shows his consistency with a sub-4.00 ERA, the 36-year-old has few recent victories to show for it. A major reason for the lack of wins is his brief outings: He has pitched into the sixth inning just twice in his past nine starts.
Bassitt last won on July 23 after working 7 1/3 innings in an 8-4 victory over the New York Yankees. He is 0-1 with a 1.69 ERA over his three starts this month, allowing just three earned runs on 10 hits in 16 innings. Bassitt, however, is 1-6 with a 4.00 ERA in nine career starts and one relief appearance against the Rays.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay right-hander Shane Baz (9-12, 5.15 ERA) will look to rebound from a terrible outing at the Chicago Cubs on Friday, a 6-4 setback to open their three-game series. He surrendered five runs on six hits in just 2 1/3 innings and walked three.
Since July in a span of 13 starts, Baz is 1-9 with a 6.21 ERA. He has allowed 12 home runs and walked 25 in 66 2/3 innings.
Baz has a 3-0 record and a 2.63 ERA in five career starts vs. the Blue Jays.