Shane McClanahan improves to 4-0 as Rays beat Blue Jays

Christian Bethancourt hit a three-run home run, Josh Lowe added three RBIs and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Shane McClanahan pitched six strong innings as the Rays salvaged the finale of a three-game series.

Yandy Diaz reached base four times. He was hit by a pitch, walked, doubled and singled.

The Rays entered the series with 13 consecutive wins to open the season to become the third team to do so since 1901. The 1982 Atlanta Braves and the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers were the others.

Toronto completed a 4-2 homestand.

Alek Manoah (1-1) allowed seven runs, nine hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays. He had five strikeouts and hit a batter.

McClanahan (4-0) allowed one run, four hits and two walks while striking out six.

Manoah hit Diaz with the first pitch of the game, Brandon Lowe walked and Harold Ramirez singled to load the bases. Wander Franco walked, forcing in a run. After two strikeouts, Josh Lowe blooped a two-run single to right.

Toronto scored a run in the bottom of the first on George Springer's walk and singles by Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

McClanahan retired 11 batters in a row before Whit Merrifield doubled with two out in the fourth.

Taylor Walls walked with two out in the fifth, stole second scored on Josh Lowe's double.Vidal Brujan hit an infield single to third and Bethancourt hit his third home run of the season, After Diaz singled, Manoah was replaced by Zach Pop, who loaded the bases with two walks before striking out Franco.

Tim Mayza pitched a perfect top of the sixth for Toronto and Trevor Richards was perfect in the top of the seventh and eighth.

Colin Poche replaced McClanahan for Tampa Bay and had a perfect bottom of the seventh. Garrett Cleavinger pitched around a single and a walk in the bottom of the eighth.

Anthony Bass allowed a run in the top of the ninth on a double by Walls and a single by Brujan.

Jason Adam pitched around a single and a walk in the bottom of the ninth by starting the game-ending line drive double play.