TORONTO – Drew Rasmusen combined with four relievers to throw three-hit balls, Brandon Lowe and Ji-Man Choi fired home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays became the first team in the American League to reach 90 wins , then beat the Toronto Tiles 2-0 on Tuesday.
After losing four of their previous five games, the Rays reached the 90-mark mark for just the eighth time in their history – all in the last 14 seasons.
Tampa Bay (90-55) cut a two-game losing streak in a row. The Rays have not lost three games in a row since July 25-28.
Toronto began the day as a leader in bidding for wildcard tickets for the postseason in the Americana, a game over the New York and Boston Yankees. The Tiles had scored 52 runs to win their previous four games.
Rasmussen (3-1) accepted 2 hits in five innings.
The beating of Choi in the beginning of the second entrance allowed him to arrive at 10 vuelacercas in the campaign. This was the only race allowed by Puerto Rican José Berríos (11-8), who fell for the first time in four overtures despite accepting only four hits over seven chapters.
For the Rays, Dominicans Nelson Cruz 3-1, Manuel Margot 3-0. Cubans Randy Arozarena 4-1, Yandy Diaz 4-0.
For the Tiles, the Dominicans Vladimir Guerrero 4-0, Teoscar Hernandez 3-0. The Cuban Lourdes Gurriel Jr. of 3-0. Venezuelan Breyvic Valera 3-0.