The Blue Jays have won 11 of 13 and extended their lead over Tampa Bay to four games for the top wild card spot in the American League. Jordan Romano worked the ninth to record his AL-best 25th save, despite allowing Taylor Walsh’s leadoff homer in the ninth. The Blue Jays were busy before the trade deadline an hour before the first inning. They acquired two-time AL All-Star reliever Whit Merrifield from Kansas City, and acquired relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop from Miami. Gausman (8-8) walked Randy Arozarena leading off the first, hit Isaac Paredes with a pitch with one out, then retired 14 in a row before Walls singled for the Rays’ first hit to start the sixth. The right-hander threw 75 of 103 pitches for strikes. Toronto went up 1-0 in the first when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled and scored on a single by Beau Bisset off Drew Rasmussen (6-4). Guerrero is on a 13-fight hitting streak. Danny Jansen blasted a two-run single up the middle with two outs in the ninth. Rasmussen gave up one run and six hits in six innings. Tampa Bay is 3-8 since the All-Star break. Center fielder Jose Siri, acquired from Houston on Monday, went 0-3 in his Rays debut. He made a nice sliding catch to get one strike away from Bichette with two on and two out in the third and just missed making a diving catch on Jansen’s single. RAY AMPLIFIERS Despite making only a small deal on Tuesday, sending Brett Phillips to Baltimore for $100,000, Tampa Bay will get some big help in late August or early September from within. President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander said SS Wander Franco (right hamstring surgery) and OFs Harold Ramirez (fractured right thumb) and Manuel Margot (strained right patellar tendon) could all return by the duration of the time frame. COACH ROOM Blue Jays: TO George Springer (right elbow) is out for the third time in the last four games. He will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Rays: C Francisco Mejia (right shoulder impingement) and RHP Matt Wisler (neck strain) could return later this week. … RHP Yonny Chirinois (Tommy John surgery) and LHP Brendan McKay (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) had their rehab assignments moved from rookie-level FCL to Class-A Charleston, NEXT Blue Jays: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-5), Wednesday’s starter, is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three games against Tampa Bay. Rays: LHP Ryan Yarbrough (0-6) will either start or follow a first game Wednesday.
