The Blue Jays have the number of the Rays

Is Canada poison for the Tampa Bay Rays? The Florida team suffered a second loss in 24 hours against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, losing 5-2.

Recall that the Rays had tied a major league record by winning their first 13 games of the season.

Japanese gunner Yusei Kikuchi (2-0) put on another convincing performance against the Rays to lead the way. In six career games against Tampa, he is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA.

This time, Kikuchi collected strikeouts. He frustrated nine opposing batters in six innings, conceding only four hits and a long ball, hit by Taylor Walls.

The Jays got going in the fourth inning on offense. Whit Merrifield and Danny Jansen added a run to the board by hitting a double and a single respectively.

Just like in Friday’s game, the Rays’ pitching indiscipline cost them. In the sixth period, reliever Josh Fleming did not help his team’s cause by allowing a free pass when the bases were loaded.

Alejandro Kirk drove the final nail into the Rays’ coffin, hitting a productive single in the seventh inning.

Elsewhere, in his first major league start, Rays gunner Calvin Faucher looked pretty good in two and two-thirds innings to the mound. He allowed two hits, one earned run and one walk.

The Blue Jays could sweep the best team in the major leagues on Sunday at Rogers Center.