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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays inch closer to clinching division with 6-5 win over Rays
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Sep 16, 2025, 22:45 EDTUpdated: Sep 16, 2025, 23:24 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays’ magic number to clinch the American League East is down to six games.
On Tuesday evening, the Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 to bring their season record to 89-62. Let’s take a look at what went on in this game!
The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Addison Barger was able to bloop a ball into the outfield on an 0-2 count with two outs. In the top of the second, George Springer hit a single with the bases loaded to make it 3-0, followed by an RBI single to give the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead early in the game.
Then, some drama happened. With a runner on first and second, Brandon Lowe hit the ball to the wall in the outfield. Instead of Nathan Lukes making the catch, a fan reached over the wall to grab it. After review, the replay room determined that it was a home run, one of the worst calls of the season.
Thankfully, the Jays had a bit of luck the next time they stepped up to the plate, as Lukes pulled the ball to the right field wall. The ball deflected off Josh Lowe’s glove and off the hands of a fan. After another crew chief review, this was also deemed a home run.
There was no replay needed for Joey Loperfido’s fourth home run of the season, as the pinch-hitting outfielder hit a tank off Kevin Kelly to give the Blue Jays a 6-3 lead. This home run also turned out to be the game-winning run, as the Rays scored two runs before stranding two runners in the bottom of the ninth.

Takeaways…

Since the start of July, I’ve pointed to the similarities between this season and the 2015 season. Interestingly, the 2015 season featured another play similar to the Rays’ home run, albeit in the American League Championship Series in Game 6. The good news is that despite the wrong call in Tuesday’s game, the Jays found a way to win.
George Springer remains hot, as he went 3-5 with two RBIs in this game; all three of his hits were singles. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger also had two-hit days, while Alejandro Kirk, Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, and Joey Loperfido had one hit. Both Lukes and Loperfido hit home runs.
It was another tough start for José Berríos, as he pitched four innings, giving up three runs and two walks, while failing to strike a batter out. While those three earned runs shouldn’t have happened, Berríos threw 78 pitches, only 45 for strikes, in four innings.
Tommy Nance pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and striking out two. Eric Lauer got him out of the inning with a strikeout, going an inning and a third with no earned runs allowed while picking up the win. Yariel Rodríguez had another strong outing, pitching a clean inning with a strikeout. Brendon Little allowed an earned run and two walks in a third of an inning, and Seranthony Domínguez allowed a run in his inning of work.
While it wasn’t pretty, Jeff Hoffman was able to pick up his 31st save of the season, striking out the final two batters he faced and stranding two runners on base.
So, how do the standings look at the conclusion of Tuesday’s game? The Boston Red Sox lost to the Athletics, and the Detroit Tigers lost to the Cleveland Guardians, meaning the Jays gain a game on each team. Unfortunately, they didn’t gain a game on the New York Yankees, as the Bronx Bombers were just able to hold on by a score of 10-9, despite leading that game 10-1.
As it stands, the Blue Jays need just three wins (or three Guardians losses) to clinch a postseason spot. That is nearly guaranteed, but to clinch the division, they’ll need another six wins, six Yankee losses, or a combination of the two.
They can get that win on Wednesday at 7:05 PM ET, as they look to win the four-game series against the Rays. Kevin Gausman returns to the mound after his nine-inning shutout last Thursday.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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