Rays chase Stroman early in DL return, beat Blue Jays 7-1
TORONTO (AP) - Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman got roughed up early in his return from the disabled list, Ji-Man Choi added a solo homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Toronto 7-1 on Monday night.
Joey Wendle had three hits, Matt Duffy had two hits and two RBIs, and Tommy Pham reached base three times for the Rays. Tampa Bay won its third straight and fourth of six following an eight-game winning streak that ended Aug. 28.
Kevin Keirmaier returned after missing Sunday's game because of a sore back and had three hits and an RBI, coming within a home run of the cycle.
Making his first start since Aug. 17, Stroman (4-9) allowed four runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings. It was Stroman's shortest start since Aug. 15, 2014, his rookie season, when he got only two outs against the Chicago White Sox.
Stroman left a start Aug. 7 against Boston because of a blister on his middle finger, then was forced out early against the Rays on Aug. 12 and at New York five days later. He is winless in five starts.
Pham's RBI single gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the first, and Tampa Bay chased Stroman with a three-run second. Mallex Smith hit an RBI single and Duffy followed with a two-run double.
Choi connected off Taylor Guerrieri in the seventh, a second-deck drive to right. The homer was Choi's sixth.
Ryan Stanek opened for the Rays and left after a perfect first inning. Yonny Chirinos (3-5) followed with seven innings of relief, allowing one run and four hits. Jaime Schultz pitched the ninth.
Rays catcher Nick Ciuffo was selected from Triple-A Durham and made his major league debut, batting ninth. To make room on the 40-man roster, Tampa Bay put catcher Adam Moore on the restricted list, citing 'improper documentation' with his passport. He could still join the Rays in Toronto before the three-game series concludes.
NO REUNION
The Blue Jays won't be seeing former 3B Josh Donaldson when the Indians come to Toronto for a four-game series that begins Thursday. Cleveland put Donaldson (left calf) on the 10-day DL Monday. Donaldson was traded to the Indians on Friday for a player to be named later.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: Smith was activated off the 10-day DL after missing eight games because of a viral infection. ... RHP Jake Faria will likely be activated Tuesday.
Blue Jays: RHP Mark Leiter Jr., who was claimed off waivers from Philadelphia on Saturday, reported to the Blue Jays on Monday and pitched the ninth. Leiter became Toronto's 35th pitcher of the season, a franchise record. ... INF Yangervis Solarte (strained right oblique) took batting practice Monday for the first time since his injury. Solarte has been out since Aug. 11.
UP NEXT
The Rays have not named a starter for Tuesday, while the Blue Jays are expected to start rookie LHP Ryan Borucki. Over his past three starts, Borucki has a 10.03 ERA.
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