Shane Bieber pitched a strong seven innings Thursday afternoon and the host Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.
Bieber (2-1) allowed one run, three hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Louis Varland pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 21st save as the Blue Jays salvaged the finale of the four-game series.
George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and one RBI each for Toronto, which completed a 2-5 homestand. Yandy Diaz drove in the lone run for the Rays, who finished a 3-5 road trip.
Tampa Bay opener Casey Legumina allowed a first-inning run. Ernie Clement singled with two out, took second when Springer walked and scampered home when Junior Caminero bobbled Alejandro Kirk’s squibber to third that was scored as a hit.
Bieber retired his first eight batters before Hunter Feduccia doubled to right with two out in the third. Diaz stroked an RBI single to right, though a confused Feduccia stopped briefly after rounding third base before continuing home.
The Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead against bulk starter Ian Seymour (6-3) in their third. Yohendrick Pinango led off with a double to center and barely beat the throw to second. Springer delivered a two-out RBI single to left.
Seymour worked around Springer’s leadoff double in the sixth.
Toronto added a run in the seventh. Myles Straw walked with one out, stole second and beat the high throw home from Victor Mesa Jr. on Guerrero’s two-out single to right.
Tyler Rogers replaced Bieber and pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout to set up Varland.
Seymour allowed two runs, five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.
Toronto recalled Davis Schneider from Triple-A Buffalo and he started in left field on Thursday, going 0-for-2 with a walk. Sean Keys was optioned to Buffalo.
Toronto put left-hander Patrick Corbin (left teres major strain) on the injured list and recalled left-hander Adam Macko from Buffalo.
