Jonathan Aranda homers as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jonathan Aranda homered for the second consecutive game, helping Taj Bradley and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Saturday.

Aranda connected for a two-run shot in the third inning against Yariel Rodríguez (1-7), giving Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead. He also went deep in a 1-0 victory over Toronto on Friday night. Five of Aranda's nine career homers have come against the Blue Jays.

“I get excited about him, man,” Bradley said, “When I played with him in Triple-A, you give him enough playing time he's going to go on a run. He's doing it now.”

Bradley (7-11) pitched five innings of one-run ball in his first win since July 25. The right-hander, who struck out four and walked two, was 0-7 with a 7.88 ERA in his previous nine starts.

“I was really proud that he got through the fifth inning,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said after Bradley threw 103 pitches, 67 for strikes. “That’s a lot of pitches through five innings."

Drew Rasmussen struck out three over two perfect innings to get his first save.

Rodríguez gave up four hits and walked three in four innings. He also struck out three in his 20th start in his first season in the majors.

The Cuban right-hander agreed to a $32 million, five-year deal in February.

“I think it’s been a successful year for him in terms of routines, innings and understanding how this whole thing works out at the big league level,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “It’s been cool to watch. There’s still a long way to go but the innings he has gotten in have been huge for him.”

The Blue Jays threatened in each of the first three innings but failed to score. They went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position after they went 0 for 7 in those situations on Friday.

Alejandro Kirk extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI triple in the seventh for Toronto. It was the catcher’s first career three-base hit.

Kirk got the ball he hit for the triple.

The Blue Jays scored their first run on Spencer Horwitz’s infield single in front of home plate in the fifth.

Ben Rortvedt had six hits in his previous 63 at-bats (.095) before putting the Rays ahead 1-0 on a second-inning RBI single.

Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 3 for 5 and is hitting .324. The third baseman overran Yandy Díaz's popup infield single in the seventh, but the Rays' leadoff hitter was left stranded at first base.

Guerrero has 20 three-hit games this season.

UP NEXT

Rays RHP Shane Baz (3-3. 3.21 ERA) starts Sunday against Toronto. Baz has gone five or more innings and allowed three hits or fewer in a team-record five consecutive starts. The Blue Jays have not announced their starter, but former Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (5-2, 3.36 ERA) could get the call.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri reacts after striking out against Toronto Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodríguez during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, left, looks on as Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Rortvedt, right, hits an RBI-single during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe (15) congratulates Jonathan Aranda, right, after Aranda's two-run home run off Toronto Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodríguez during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates in the dugout after his two-run home run off Toronto Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodríguez during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Manuel Rodríguez pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Toronto Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodríguez pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Tampa Bay Rays starter Taj Bradley pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Spencer Horwitz gestures toward the dugout after hitting a single off Tampa Bay Rays starter Taj Bradley during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dylan Guenther had two goals and an assist, Jack McBain added a goal and two assists, and the Utah Mammoth beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 on Tuesday night.

Daniil But, JJ Peterka and Michael Carcone each had a goal and an assist, Ian Cole each had two assists, and Barrett Hayon added an assist for Utah, which extended its point streak to 4-0-1. Karel Vejmelka had 19 saves while getting his NHL-leading 21st win.

Calle Jarnkrok scored as Toronto snapped a four game win streak and a 10-game point streak. Dennis Hildeby finished with 34 saves.

Guenther scored his two goals just 1:18 apart early in the second period, the fastest back-to-back goals by a single player in Mammoth franchise history, and pushed Utah's lead to 3-0. The sharp-shooting forward leads Utah with 23 goals on the season.

Peterka made it a four-goal lead with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the second before Jarnkrok spoiled Vejmelka’s shutout bid 3:30 into the third.

McBain and But scored 3:25 apart late in the third to cap the scoring.

Carcone scored the first goal 3:22 into the game on a one-timer off a cross-ice pass from Nate Schmidt. Carcone, who grew up just north of Toronto, has scored Utah's opening goal in the last three matchups.

Sean Durzi had a cut on his face after colliding with Auston Matthews in the second period but returned to skate in the third.

Late in the first period, But seemed to have scored but officials whistled a face-off while the puck was still free.

Toronto: At Vegas on Thursday night.

Utah: Hosts Dallas on Thursday night to continue a seven-game homestand.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/nhl

Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) jumps over Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) hockey stick during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Calle Jarnkrok (19) scores against Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) shoots the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby (35) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) moves the puck on the ice against Toronto Maple Leafs center Steven Lorentz (18) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton (27) shoots the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby (35) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)