Mejía HRs twice, Rays sweep doubleheader with Blue Jays

Jul 2, 2022, 12:00 AM | Updated: 7:01 pm

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

(Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Diaz, bottom, slides safely into second base with a double ahead of a tag by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Santiago Espinal during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' catcher Gabriel Moreno (55) checks on starting pitcher Kevin Gausman after Gausman was hit by a batted ball off the bat of a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Thomas Hatch throws to a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette dives safely back into first base ahead of the throw to Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays' second baseman Taylor Walls throws to first base to put out Toronto Blue Jays' designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr., not shown, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vladimir Guerrero waves to the crowd on his way to the mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch to his son, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., prior to a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' starting pitcher Kevin Gausman throws to a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' shortstop Bo Bichette, left, slides safely into second base for a double under a jumping Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' starting pitcher Bo Bichette slides safely into home ahead of the throw to Tampa Bays Rays' catcher Rene Pinto during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero, right, signs a baseball with his son, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman, center, is checked on after being hit by a batted ball off the bat of a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Francisco Mejía homered twice, Isaac Paredes had three hits and five RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays swept a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

The Rays won the first game 6-2, and nearly doubled their run output for the second with an 11-5 win.

“It kind of all came together for us through the course of a long day,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “It’s tough to win both games of a doubleheader, so really proud and impressed with the guys.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a solo blast for his 19th home run and Bradley Zimmer added a two-run homer in the second game, but couldn’t keep Toronto from losing a doubleheader at home for the first time in five doubleheaders.

Left-hander Shane McClanahan (9-3) shut down the Blue Jays in the opener, allowing one run and three hits over seven innings and lowering his AL-leading ERA to 1.74. That win snapped the Rays’ season-long four-game losing streak.

“The pitchers gave us a chance to win the game and our offense came alive today,” Mejía said through a translator.

Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman left Game 1 after he was hit in the right ankle by a 100 mph line drive off the bat of Wander Franco in the second inning. While X-rays were negative, the Blue Jays said Gausman had a right ankle contusion and that his status for his next start is uncertain.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and go from there,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said.

All nine Rays starters had at least one hit in Game 1. Tampa Bay finished with 13 hits in Game 1 and had 14 in Game 2.

“I hope we can just keep this going,” Paredes said through a translator.

The Rays pounded Triple-A callup Thomas Hatch (0-1) in the nightcap, racking up 10 runs and 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays right-hander, who was making his first big league appearance of 2022.

Mejía hit a two-run homer in the second and a solo shot in the fifth, his fourth and fifth home runs of the season. It was his second career multi-homer game.

Paredes singled and scored in the second, hit an RBI double and later scored in the third, then connected off Hatch in the fifth for a three-run homer, which was his 13th of the season and eighth in 10 games. Paredes also hit a solo homer off Casey Lawrence in Game 1.

Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen came off the injured list as the 27th man for the doubleheader and pitched 4 2/3 innings in Game 2, allowing two runs and five hits. Ralph Garza Jr. (2-2) pitched the final two innings.

“Two wins in one day, it’s hard to hate that,” Rasmussen said.

The Blue Jays and Rays settle their five-game series Sunday afternoon.

“PERSONAL MATTER”

In Game 2, Montoyo and first base coach Mark Budzinski both left the dugout in the third inning. The Blue Jays’ clubhouse was closed after the game and the team said in a statement that Budzinski was dealing with a personal matter.

VLAD AND DAD

Before Game 1, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr. threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Vlad Jr. The Blue Jays handed out a dual bobblehead doll featuring the former Expos star and his slugging son.

FAN MAN

McClanahan reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time in Game 1. He also struck out 10 in his previous start, June 26 against Pittsburgh.

JAYS LAND BANDA

Toronto acquired LH Anthony Banda from Pittsburgh for cash. The Pirates designated Banda for assignment last week. To make room on the 40-man roster, RH Julian Merryweather (strained left abdominal) was transferred to the 60-day IL.

ROSTER MOVES

Rays: Tampa Bay optioned OF RH David McKay to Triple-A Durham, recalled RH Dusten Knight from the taxi squad, and added RH Cristofer Ogando to the taxi squad.

Blue Jays: RH Max Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo after Game 1 so Toronto could recall Hatch to start Game 2.

UP NEXT

Rays RH Shane Baz (0-1, 3.38) starts Sunday against Blue Jays RH Ross Stripling (4-2, 3.12).

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