Shane Baz wins MLB debut, Rays cut Blue Jays’ wild-card lead

By MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shane Baz pitched two-hit ball for five innings to win his major league debut and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays cut Toronto’s lead in the wild-card chase, holding off the Blue Jays 6-4. Tampa Bay has a seven-game advantage over second-place Boston with 11 games remaining. The Blue Jays, who scored twice in the ninth inning and left the bases loaded, had their edge over the New York Yankees for the second AL wild card drop to a half-game. Baz gave up a pair of home runs and little else, striking out five and walking none. The 22-year-old righty, promoted from Triple-A Durham, was on this year’s silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic baseball team.