Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson makes a leaping catch on a fly ball from Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Republished September 17, 2025 - 8:51 PM
Original Publication Date September 17, 2025 - 7:26 PM
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rays center fielder Chandler Simpson robbed Alejandro Kirk of a three-run homer and later singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of Tampa Bay's 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
The AL East-leading Blue Jays saw their six-game winning streak end, while the Rays snapped a three-game skid.
Tampa Bay rookie Ian Seymour (4-2) worked a career-best seven innings in his fourth start, allowing one unearned run on four hits. He struck out three and walked one.
With the Rays leading 1-0 in the fourth, the Blue Jays had runners on second and third with none out when Kirk hit a fly ball to deep center at Steinbrenner Field. Simpson leaped and made the catch with his glove above the wall, turning a potential homer into a sacrifice fly.
Simpson went 3-for-4 on the night. He doubled in the first and scored on Yandy Diaz's single. In the seventh, he lined a single to right off Yariel Rodriguez (2-2) to score Carson Williams.
Rays slugger Junior Caminero exited after the sixth with back tightness.
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