ST. PETERSBURG, Florida: The Tampa Bay Rays believe they have a star in the making in Wil Myers.
The rookie homered in his home debut Monday night, continuing an impressive first week in the majors and helping Jeremy Hellickson beat the Blue Jays 4-1 to end Toronto’s 11-game winning streak.
“He’s very comfortable,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said about Myers. “He’s not overwhelmed whatsoever.”
Myers made his major league debut in Boston at the start of a seven-game road trip that ended Sunday. He hit a grand slam off CC Sabathia for his first big league homer during a loss Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
This time, the 22-year-old outfielder hit the second of three straight Tampa Bay homers in the second inning, connecting in his first at-bat at Tropicana Field.
Myers, who’s hitting .294 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs after eight games, received a standing ovation and took a curtain call for a crowd of 11,407 getting its initial close-up view of the key acquisition in the offseason trade that sent pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City for the power-hitting right fielder and other prospects.
“I wasn’t sure what really to do but everyone kept cheering so I thought that might be my cue to go out there,” Myers said. “Actually, I saw that Zoilo Almonte guy get one (in New York) and everyone got up and kept cheering, so I thought it was the same deal for me.”
Myers’ drive to center off Esmil Rogers (3-3) was sandwiched between home runs by James Loney and Sam Fuld as Tampa Bay went deep three times in a span of eight pitches. Luke Scott added a bloop RBI double to make it 4-0 in the third, and that was all the support Hellickson needed.
The Rays estimated the ball Myers hit, which caromed off a wall beyond center field, traveled 422 feet before bouncing back onto the field.
A night after scoring a season-high 13 runs at home to complete a three-game sweep of Baltimore, the Blue Jays were limited to four singles and five walks. They came up short in their bid to extend the longest winning streak in the majors since Detroit won 12 straight in 2011.
Hellickson (6-3) gave up J.P. Arencibia’s single, walked four and struck out four. He allowed only one runner past first base — in the second inning, when Colby Rasmus walked and moved to third when Arencibia followed with his hit to center field.
The Blue Jays stranded Rasmus, who drew three of Toronto’s five walks, when Maicer Izturis grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Toronto finally broke through in the eighth when it loaded the bases with one out against Alex Torres with a pair of singles and a walk. Jose Bautista grounded into a force play to drive in a run before Edwin Encarnacion flied out to end the threat.
Fernando Rodney worked the ninth for the Rays, earning his 16th save in 21 opportunities.
“The three home runs hurt ... but their pitching shut us down. That was the story of the game,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “It was a nice little streak. We’ll start another one tomorrow. Losses are never easy, but we’ve been on a nice little roll.”
The Blue Jays’ longest winning streak in nearly 15 years matched the best in club history. They also won 11 straight in 1987 and 1998.
The Rays began the day last in the AL East, one percentage point behind the surging Blue Jays, who gained seven games on Tampa Bay during their winning streak.
Despite the loss, Toronto has won 15 of 19 while outscoring opponents 103-57 to get back into the division race led by the Boston Red Sox.
Indians 5 Orioles 2: In Baltimore, Michael Brantley homered and had four RBIs to lead Cleveland past Baltimore for its ninth win in 12 games.
Brantley put the Indians ahead with a two-run single off Zach Britton (1-2) in the sixth inning and made it 5-2 with a two-run shot in the eighth off Darren O’Day. His four RBIs tied a career high, reached twice previously.
The victory improved Cleveland’s record against the AL East to 7-17 and provided an uplifting start to an 11-game road trip.
Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4) allowed two runs in 5 1-3 innings and Vinnie Pestano, the fourth Indians reliever, worked the ninth for his fourth save.
Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters homered for the Orioles, who have lost four straight.
