Rays lose lead in 8th, get walked off in 10th by Blue Jays

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on May 13, 2026

Published in Baseball

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TORONTO — The Rays have prided themselves during their sizzling start by winning games in different and interesting ways.

Wednesday they lost one that way.

The Rays survived an eighth inning in which their top reliever walked three straight batters en route to giving up the tying run, then rallied for two runs in the 10th.

But it ended badly, with a 5-3 walk-off loss.

Aaron Brooks, a weekend call-up after his recent signing from the Mexican league to a minor league deal, got one out, walked two, and then allowed a grand slam to Daulton Varsho.

It was Brooks’ first big league appearance since 2024.

Brooks got one out, and walked Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto to load the bases.

The Rays came into the game with an American League-leading 28-13 record and on quite a roll, having won 10 of their last 11, 16 of 18 and 26 of 34.

The Rays took the lead in the top of the 10th when Ben Williamson, who was a defensive replacement for slugging third baseman Junior Caminero in the eighth inning, delivered a leadoff single to score speedy Chandler Simpson, who was the runner placed at second.

High-leverage reliever Bryan Baker, who walked only four of the 64 batters he faced over his first 18 appearances, put the first three Jays on in the eighth. George Springer walked on five pitches, Yohendrick Pinango on four and Guerrero on eight.

Okamoto immediately made Baker pay, lining a ball to left that allowed Springer to tag up and score. Baker got the second out, then walked Myles Straw (on six pitches) to re-load the bases.

Cole Sulser, who had his own issues as the Rays blew a 5-0 seventh-inning lead Tuesday before rallying to win in 10, got Ernie Clement to fly out.

The Rays turned four double plays, one shy of their franchise record for a game, having converted five eight times but not since 2012.

The Rays, who didn’t get their first man on base vs. Toronto starter Dylan Cease until one out into the fourth, scored the game’s first run in the seventh.

Jonathan Aranda drew a leadoff walk and, after Yandy Diaz popped out to extend his slump to 0 for 15, went to second when Jake Fraley walked. Richie Palacios, whose spot on the team is more secure with Gavin Lux’s latest injury issue, then delivered an RBI single.

The Rays had a chance for more, but Cedric Mullins popped out and Hunter Feduccia struck out on an ABS challenge reversal.

They threatened again in the eighth when Taylor Walls led off with a single and, after Simpson and Caminero struck out, Aranda walked. They got a break when Diaz bounced a ball that first baseman Guerrero grabbed but failed to get anyone out, throwing late to third after Walls had rounded the base.

Griffin Jax didn’t pitch exceedingly well, allowing four hits, walking four and throwing barely more than half his pitches for strikes (38 of 66) over five innings.

Despite allowing Blue Jays on base in each inning, Jax was effective in not allowing any runs. He was helped in large part because the Rays infielders turned three double plays behind him.

Wednesday was Jax’s fourth start as he transitions from high-leverage reliever back to traditional starter. The five innings and 66 pitches he threw were both his most of the season, and represented the kind of progressive increases he and the team were seeking.