Rays’ Brandon Lowe reaches 1 lofty mark, narrowly misses another

TORONTO — On a day he put himself into the powerful company of Jose Canseco, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Phelps, Brandon Lowe said he would have preferred to join Evan Longoria and BJ Upton as Rays who have hit for the cycle.

Lowe earned distinction for his first-inning home run into the 500-level seats above rightfield at Rogers Centre, as he became only the fourth player in the 36-season history of the stadium to do so multiple times. In all, 18 players have reached the level a combined 23 times.

Lowe was the first to do so since his last blast there on April 12, 2019, right after then-teammate Austin Meadows also went upper deck.

“As soon as I hit it and kind of saw where it was going, yeah, the first person that went through (my mind), I was like, ‘Oh yeah, Meadows, me and him,’” Lowe said.

Lowe had four hits and reached base in all six plate appearances in Thursday’s 13-0 win over the Blue Jays. In addition to the home run, he doubled in the third, singled in the seventh and doubled again in the ninth off usual infielder Ernie Clement. Teammates teased him, given the big margin, for not trying for third and completing the cycle.

“Yeah, getting ripped a little bit for not testing the second baseman’s arm as I was hitting second base,” he said. “I let ‘em know that if I wasn’t getting thrown out by 85 feet, there might have been an opportunity.”

Still, Lowe said, it obviously was a good day, though he would have preferred the cycle since he already had reached the upper deck.

“Anytime there’s a cycle watch, it’s great,” he said. “It’s amazing. But they’re few and far between for a reason.”

Diaz update

First baseman Yandy Diaz could rejoin the Rays during the homestand that starts Friday. He missed the seven-game trip to New York and Toronto while attending to what the Rays called a personal family matter. Officially, Cash said before Thursday’s game there was still “no update” on Diaz’s status or expected return. The Rays placed him on the restricted list with no pay starting Saturday, meaning he is forfeiting roughly $43,011 per day, a prorated share of his $8 million salary. Through Thursday, that totaled about $258,065.

Draft breeze

With seven of their top 11 draft picks signed and the Aug. 1 deadline within sight, the Rays could finalize a deal as soon as this weekend with top selection Theo Gillen, an infielder-turned-outfielder from Austin, Texas. Gillen was the No. 18 overall selection, which has a slot value of $4.37 million. Also unsigned at this point are Tyler Bell, an Illinois prep shortstop taken 66th overall with a competitive balance-round pick; fifth-rounder Jacob Kmatz, a right-hander from Oregon State; and seventh-rounder Ryan Andrade, a right-hander from Pittsburgh.

Rehab report

Lefty Jeffrey Springs worked five innings, allowing three runs on four hits while throwing 83 pitches, on Thursday in his ninth start for Triple-A Durham as he nears completion of his rehab from April 2023 Tommy John surgery. ... Drew Rasmussen, who has made two strong one-inning rehab outings for Durham, is likely to work two innings in his next appearance Saturday. He is targeting an early August return.

Miscellany

Randy Arozarena was struck on the bill of his helmet by a Chris Bassitt changeup in the third but said he was fine and stayed in. … The Rays won their team-record ninth straight rubber game of a series, the longest such streak in the majors, per Elias, since the Yankees won 10 straight in 2019. … Rays pitchers logged their sixth shutout. … Kevin Kiermaier, the ex-Ray who said he is retiring after this season, asked to play rightfield rather than his usual center when put in the game in the ninth inning, his first appearance there since 2015. ... The alt rock band Jimmy Eat World will perform a free postgame concert Friday at Tropicana Field.

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