Lauer tagged for three runs as Rays edge Blue Jays 6-5 in spring training

PORT CHARLOTTE — Toronto starter Eric Lauer was tagged for three runs in 1 2/3 innings, and a Blue Jays comeback fell short in a 6-5 spring training loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

Lauer gave up singles to the first two batters he faced, then loaded the bases when he hit Jake Fraley with a pitch.

All those baserunners came across the plate as Junior Caminero hit a two-run single and Cedric Mullins hit a sacrifice fly.

Lauer settled down after that and retired the next four batters he faced before giving way to Connor Larkin.

Toronto got on the board with a Leo Jiménez RBI single in the second, but Mullins homered in the third, and Logan Davidson hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth to put Tampa Bay up 5-1.

Toronto tied the game with four runs in the eighth. Rafael Lantigua hit an RBI single, two runs scored on a Ryan Vilade fielding error, and Arjun Nimmala drove in another run with a double. But Vilade hit a sacrifice fly off Jorge Alcala to cap the scoring.

The Blue Jays (1-5-1) play a pair of split-squad games Saturday as they visit the New York Yankees in Tampa and host Philadelphia in Dunedin.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2026.