Josh Lowe homers in 1st game back since opening day and helps Rays beat Blue Jays 8-3

TORONTO (AP) — Josh Lowe had a homer among his three hits in his first game since getting injured on opening day, Brandon Lowe homered twice and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 Thursday.

Josh Lowe, recovered from an oblique strain, scored on Brandon Lowe's sixth and seventh homers of the season and hit his first of the season in the fifth inning. Brandon Lowe finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs.

Kameron Misner hit his fourth homer. José Caballero had two hits, as did Danny Jansen, including an RBI single against his former team.

Zack Littell (3-5) worked 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. The Rays have won Littell's last four starts, a span in which he has posted a 3.23 ERA over 25 1/3 innings.

Kevin Gausman (3-4) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on 10 hits, including three homers. The 34-year-old right-hander didn't walk a batter and struck out six.

Addison Barger hit his second homer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added his fifth and Nathan Lukes his third, all off Littell. Bo Bichette had three hits.

Josh Lowe was activated after Travis Jankowski was put on the injury list with a groin strain.

After Lukes homered and Bichette doubled, Manuel Rodríguez came on in relief with one out in the eighth and the Rays leading 6-3. He walked Guerrero before getting the final two outs, the last on George Springer's deep fly ball to center.

The Blue Jays played with the Rogers Centre roof open for the first time this season.

The Rays' Taj Bradley (3-2, 4.24 ERA) pitches against Miami's Max Meyer (2-4, 4.37), and Toronto's Bowden Francis (2-5, 5.40) faces Detroit's Jack Flaherty (1-5, 4.61) on Friday.

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Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe (8) hits a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Josh Lowe (15) celebrates his solo home run with teammate Brandon Lowe (8) during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe, center, is greeted in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)