Blue Jays snap Rays' historic win streak at 13 games

The Tampa Bay Rays' win streak finally met its match.

The Toronto Blue Jays bested their AL East rival Friday in a 6-3 victory at Rogers Centre, ending the Rays' season-opening undefeated stretch at 13 games.

Tampa Bay's 13-0 run matched the modern MLB record held by the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers.

"Losing always sucks," Brandon Lowe, who was charged with a critical error in the four-run fourth, said. "There's no loss that feels any worse or any better than any other ones. You kind of put them all in the same kind of category, you know? Every win is great. Every loss is terrible."

The Jays received contributions from multiple players in the lineup, led by Bo Bichette, who recorded his 500th career hit. Overall, the shortstop went 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and run scored. The proceedings began with George Springer tying Craig Biggio for third-most leadoff homers in MLB history.

Jose Berrios was off to a rough start to the season, entering the start with an 11.17 ERA. The right-hander was impressive against the Rays, though, allowing one run on four hits over five innings while striking out six.

Berrios did not return to the mound for the sixth inning after recording the final out of the fifth off a groundball that clipped him in the leg. He had thrown 77 pitches and was later diagnosed with a left knee contusion. Following the game, manager John Schneider expressed his expectation that Berrios would be able to make his next start.

The streak-busting win also marked the first time in Kevin Kiermaier's 11-year career that he faced the Rays, having spent his first decade in MLB with Tampa and winning three Gold Gloves with the team.

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen was hit with the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out four. Lefty reliever Colin Poche came in with the bases loaded in the fifth and allowed three runs to score, two of which were charged to Rasmussen, while issuing two walks and being unable to record an out.

Entering Friday night's game, the Rays had trailed six total innings over the young 2023 campaign. They trailed all nine innings against the Blue Jays.

At 13-1, the Rays still have an MLB-best plus-68 run differential. The Jays, 9-5 and in second place in the division, are now four games back of the Rays.

The series continues Saturday at Rogers Centre with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi pitching for the home side. The Rays will counter with 27-year-old right-hander Calvin Faucher.