MLB

Rays erupt in 11th to extend winning streak to 11 games, Brewers snap Padres run

By Sports Desk May 25, 2021

The Tampa Bay Rays extended their MLB-best winning streak after outlasting the Toronto Blue Jays 14-8 thanks to a monster 11th inning.

Tampa Bay celebrated an 11th consecutive victory following a seven-run 11th inning at TD Ballpark in Dunedin on Monday.

Francisco Mejia hit a tie-breaking, two-run single during the Rays' outburst in the 11th as Tampa Bay moved within one victory of the franchise record for successive wins.

The Rays raced out to a five-run lead in the opening inning behind Joey Wendle's grand slam before the Blue Jays rallied via Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien homers in the eighth and 10th innings respectively.

Guerrero hit two of Toronto's five home runs as the Blue Jays sensation now leads MLB in on-base slugging percentage (1.104), while he level with Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna for the most major homers this season (15).

The Rays now top the American League (AL) East by a half-game ahead of the idle Boston Red Sox.

 

Woodruff lifts Brewers

Brandon Woodruff starred as the Milwaukee Brewers held off the high-flying San Diego Padres 5-3. Woodruff – who leads the way in ERA (1.41) – dazzled over seven innings at American Family Field, where the Brewers ace allowed three singles and no walks while striking out eight batters. His performance helped snap San Diego's nine-game winning streak.

The AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox ended a three-game skid thanks to a 5-1 win over the St Louis Cardinals. Lance Lynn held the Cardinals hitless for 5.1 innings, while Andrew Vaughn launched a two-run homer in the sixth inning to put the White Sox ahead.

Adam Duvall's three-run homer ignited the Miami Marlins, who accounted for the Philadelphia Phillies 9-6.

 

Slumping Jays

The Blue Jays have now lost six consecutive games following a four-game sweep at the hands of AL East rivals the Rays, who are five and a half games clear of Toronto atop the standings.

 

Kelenic's star continues to rise

Jarred Kelenic produced another memorable moment. The Seattle Mariners prospect hit a towering solo home run in the fifth inning of his team's 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics – his second career homer.

 

Monday's results

Tampa Bay Rays 14-8 Toronto Blue Jays
Miami Marlins 9-6 Philadelphia Phillies
Cleveland Indians 6-5 Detroit Tigers
Colorado Rockies 3-2 New York Mets
Minnesota Twins 8-3 Baltimore Orioles
Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 San Diego Padres
Chicago White Sox 5-1 St Louis Cardinals
Seattle Mariners 4-2 Oakland Athletics 

 

Dodgers at Astros

World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers (29-18) – riding a seven-game winning streak – open their series against the Houston Astros (26-21) on Tuesday. It will be a battle of the aces as Clayton Kershaw takes to the mound, while Zack Greinke starts for the Astros, who have lost three in a row.

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