Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson makes a leaping catch on a fly ball from º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Carson Williams, right, makes a catch over outfielder Christopher Morel on a pop up from º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Addison Barger during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman throws against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ian Seymour throws against the º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tampa Bay Rays’ Chandler Simpson slides in safely with a double ahead of a throw field by º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Davis Schneider during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Chandler Simpson robs a homer and drives in go-ahead run as Rays beat Blue Jays 2-1
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rays center fielder Chandler Simpson robbed Alejandro Kirk of a three-run homer and later singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of Tampa Bay’s 2-1 victory over the º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays on Wednesday night.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson makes a leaping catch on a fly ball from º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rays center fielder Chandler Simpson robbed Alejandro Kirk of a three-run homer and later singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of Tampa Bay’s 2-1 victory over the º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøBlue Jays on Wednesday night.
The AL East-leading Blue Jays saw their six-game winning streak end, while the Rays snapped a three-game skid.
Tampa Bay rookie Ian Seymour (4-2) worked a career-best seven innings in his fourth start, allowing one unearned run on four hits. He struck out three and walked one.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
With the Rays leading 1-0 in the fourth, the Blue Jays had runners on second and third with none out when Kirk hit a fly ball to deep center at Steinbrenner Field. Simpson leaped and made the catch with his glove above the wall, turning a potential homer into a sacrifice fly.
Simpson went 3-for-4 on the night. He doubled in the first and scored on Yandy Diaz’s single. In the seventh, he lined a single to right off Yariel Rodriguez (2-2) to score Carson Williams.
Pete Fairbanks worked the ninth for his 27th save.
Rays slugger Junior Caminero exited after the sixth with back tightness.
Kevin Gausman allowed one run on six hits in six innings for the Blue Jays.
Key moment
After Kirk’s sacrifice fly, Seymour struck out Ty France and then gave up a ground-rule double to Ernie Clement to again put runners at second and third. Seymour retired Addison Barger on a popup to escape the jam.
Key stat
Seymour became the first Rays pitcher to allow two earned runs or fewer in each of his first four starts.
Up next
º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøsends Chris Bassitt (11-8, 3.90 ERA) to the mound for Thursday’s finale of the four-game series. Tampa Bay counters with Shane Baz (9-12, 5.15).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation