Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson, right, watches his two-run single off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. Catching for the Blue Jays is Tyler Heineman. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane Baz delivers to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Carson Williams celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a two-run single by Chandler Simpson off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Chandler Simpson had his second straight three-hit game and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Thursday to split their series.
Toronto's magic number to clinch a postseason spot remained at three. The AL East leaders have lost two straight following a six-game winning streak.
Shane Baz (10-12) pitched five scoreless innings with two hits and four strikeouts. Four relievers combined to finish the shutout, Tampa Bay’s ninth of the season.
Simpson lined a two-run single in the second inning to put Tampa Bay ahead. His consecutive three-hit games have bumped the rookie speedster's batting average to .301. He was caught stealing for the 12th time in 54 tries this season.
Brandon Lowe followed Simpson with an RBI single in the second. Carson Williams extended the lead in the sixth with his fourth home run.
The Rays forced Chris Bassitt (11-9) into long at-bats, running his pitch count to 89 before knocking him out in the fifth. The right-hander allowed three runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Key moment
Lowe’s sharp grounder in the second deflected off second baseman Ernie Clement, bringing in the third run.
Key statÂ
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has gone 12 games and 47 at-bats without a home run, managing just two extra-base hits during that span.
Up next
Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.74 ERA) faces the Red Sox on Friday. Toronto heads to Kansas City to start a series with Max Scherzer (5-3, 4.31) on the mound.
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