Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe jumps for a hit by º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Nathan Lukes that was eventually ruled a home run after review during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Nathan Lukes hits a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot throws against the º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ George Springer celebrates scoring against the Tampa Bay Rays with Davis Schneider during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slides back into first base after his run-scoring single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Blue Jays beat fading Rays 6-5, close in on AL East title
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nathan Lukes was involved in home-run video reviews at the plate and right field as the º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight win.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe jumps for a hit by º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Nathan Lukes that was eventually ruled a home run after review during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nathan Lukes was involved in home-run video reviews at the plate and right field as the º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight win.
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍø(89-62), seeking its first American League East title since 2015, maintained a five-game lead over the second-place New York Yankees. Joey Loperfido homered and George Springer had three hits and two RBIs.
Tampa Bay (73-78) has lost nine of 11, dropping 9 1/2 games behind Houston for the final AL wild card with 11 games left. The Rays had two on with one out in the ninth before Jeff Hoffman struck out Josh Lowe and Jake Mangum for his 31st save in 38 chances.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The Rays drew 8,908, their 18th non-sellout at 10,046-capacity Steinbrenner Field.
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøbuilt a 4-0 lead against Ryan Pepiot (11-11) on Addison Barger’s RBI single in the first and a three-run second that included Springer’s two-run single and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s RBI single.
Lukes was given a solo homer against Joey Gerber in the fourth in a video review after initially being awarded a double on a drive that hit Lowe’s glove and then the hand of a fan behind the right-field fence.
Loperfido homered in the fifth for a 6-3 lead.
Tampa Bay closed on RBI singles by Tristan Gray in the eighth and Brandon Lowe in the ninth.
Eric Lauer (9-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.Â
KEY MOMENT
Hoffman’s clutch strikeouts.
KEY STAT
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøis 36-13 when hitting multiple home runs.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.44 ERA) and Rays LHP Ian Seymour (3-2, 3.16 ERA) start Wednesday.
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