Lowe and Mead homer, Rays beat Blue Jays 3-1 for 3rd straight win

Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe watches his double off Toronto... — Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe watches his double off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 23, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara

By The Associated PressUpdated May 23, 2025

TAMPA, Fla. — Brandon Lowe and Curtis Mead homered, Drew Rasmussen pitched six scoreless innings in a four-hitter and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night for only their third three-game winning streak this season.

Lowe put the Rays ahead in the third against Eric Lauer (1-1) with his team-leading ninth home run, a two-run drive. Mead homered in the fourth.

Rasmussen (3-4) allowed four hits and two walks. Mason Montgomery, Manuel Rodríguez, Edwin Uceta and Pete Fairbanks combined for hitless relief, with Fairbanks working around a walk for his ninth save in 10 chances.

Rays pitchers walked a season-high eight. The Rays won three straight games from March 30 to April 1 and five in a row from April 23-27.

Lauer had allowed one home run in 12 innings previously this season. He gave up three runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Toronto entered following a three-game sweep of San Diego by a combined score of 24-6.

The game drew 10,046, the Rays' 30th sellout in 32 games at Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home for this season.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jonatan Clase makes the catch on... — Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jonatan Clase makes the catch on a fly out by Tampa Bay Rays' Curtis Mead during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 23, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara

Key Moment

After Montgomery walked the bases loaded in the seventh, Rodríguez got Jonatan Clase to ground into a run-scoring double play, then retired Nathan Lukes on a flyout.