Mesa’s two RBI singles power Rays past Blue Jays 4-2; Toronto loses fourth straight

By: John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press Posted: 8:51 PM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2026

TORONTO - Victor Mesa Jr. had two RBI singles as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday for their third-straight win.

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TORONTO - Victor Mesa Jr. had two RBI singles as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday for their third-straight win.

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TORONTO – Victor Mesa Jr. had two RBI singles as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday for their third-straight win.

Chandler Simpson’s sacrifice fly in the sixth gave Tampa Bay (59-42) its first lead of the game, with Mesa tacking on a run in the next at bat. Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson drew a bases-loaded walk for the Rays’ third run of the sixth.

Mesa’s RBI single in the second had tied it 1-1 for the American League East-leading Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays' Cedric Mullins (31) scores a run after a walk while the bases were loaded as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) looks on during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Griffin Jax (6-7) pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and a walk, but striking out five. Relievers Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker preserved the win.

Alejandro Kirk’s third home run of the season gave Toronto (46-56) a glimmer of hope in the seventh inning before it dropped its fourth straight. George Springer’s ground out scored Nathan Lukes for a 1-0 lead in the first.

Braydon Fisher gave up a run in 1 1/3 innings as the Blue Jays’ opener. Spencer Miles followed with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, before Jeff Hoffman (5-7) gave up three unearned runs in 2/3 of an inning. Mason Fluharty completed the sixth for Hoffman before, Tyler Rogers, Brendon Little and Louis Varland each had a scoreless inning.

Takeaways

Rays: Jax was effective for Tampa Bay, keeping Toronto off the scoreboard aside from Springer’s ground-out RBI. He dropped his earned-run average from 4.08 to 3.89 over the course of the game. It also allowed the Rays to rest most of their bullpen with one game left at Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays: Toronto’s anemic offence continued to be an issue as it managed only four hits. The Blue Jays have a total of six runs in their past five games. Their 402 runs are the fewest in all of Major League Baseball this season.

Key moment

Daulton Varsho was charged with a fielding error when Yandy Diaz’s long fly ball to right-centre field went in and out of the Toronto outfielder’s glove. The surprising gaffe by the former Gold Glove winner allowed Diaz to reach second, the first Rays runner on base in the sixth and the start of their rally in the inning.

Key stat

Kirk’s home run was Toronto’s first since July 17 when George Springer, Brandon Valenzuela and Luis Urias all had dingers in a 12-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Up next

Shane Bieber (1-1) takes the mound Thursday as Toronto closes out its four-game series against Tampa Bays. Ian Seymour (6-2) gets the start for the Rays.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2026.