Tuesday, 4 a.m.
First, understand this.
Against the Tampa Bay Rays, Bo Bichette is King Kong. Bicjette owns the Tampa Bay Rays. Regularly, he takes them out for a walk.
Coming into Monday night, Bichette was hitting .539 against the Rays, one of the most stubborn opponents the team faces.
And Monday night, the Rays finally got a lick in.
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The Rays finally controlled Bichette, a Lakewood High (St. Petersburg) graduate, in their 6-4 victory over Toronto.
In five at-bats, Bichette managed only one infield single. he bounced into two double plays. His groundout ended the game.
The Rays managed to escape a tough Blue Jays' team.
Much of the reason was the six innings of relief work by Josh Fleming, who allowed just two earned runs.
Also figuring in the win were home runs by Jose Siri, Randy Arozarena and Luke Raley. That gives the Rays 94 on the season. In all, the Rays scored four unearned runs.
"Fleming has been on a pretty good run himself," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "Take away the home run and we’ve got to be pleased with the way he threw the ball. When people got on base, he had the knack for finding the ground ball to get the double play. "
Fleming got his first win of the year. Pete Fairbanks came on in the ninth to get his fifth save, leaving the bases loaded.
The Rays and Blue Jays play again tonight at 6:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Taj Bradley will start for the Rays against Jose Berríos.