Ryu Hyun-jin returns to form as Blue Jays beat Rays 5-1

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch to the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida on Saturday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Ryu Hyun-jin put his rocky start to the 2022 MLB season behind him in his first appearance in nearly a month on Saturday, pitching four and two third solid innings as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida.

Making only his third appearance so far this season, Ryu gave up one run off of four hits with three strikeouts and one walk in four and two third innings pitched, a dramatic turnaround from last month when he landed on the injured list after giving up 11 runs in two games for a 13.50 ERA.

The month on the sidelines has clearly paid off for the Korean veteran.

Ryu gave up his sole run of the game to the very first batter he faced, allowing Yandy Diaz to go deep at the bottom of the first inning to tie the score at 1-1 after a sac fly put the Blue Jays ahead earlier in the game.

Despite the early slip up, Ryu quickly buckled down to to get two quick outs — a lineout and a groundout — before allowing a double and then striking out Randy Arozarena on five strikes to end the inning.

Ryu looked confident going into the second inning, retiring the Rays in order with two groundouts and a strikeout, then repeating the feat in the third inning with a groundout and two flyouts.

The Rays got two more knocks at the bottom of the fourth, both singles, but a groundout and a double play quickly prevented the division runner-up from getting anything across.

Ryu gave up his sole walk of the game in the fifth, but still took a groundout and a strikeout before Yimi Garcia took over on the mound. Although Ryu left the game with a no decision and the score still tied at 1-1, the Blue Jays turned things around in the eighth with two home runs and two singles combining for four runs to win the game.

“My fastball felt like it had some life,” Ryu, who topped out at 92.1 miles per hour, said after the game. “I’m pretty happy with the command and everything else. Aside from that one changeup that I gave up the home run, I was pretty happy with the way the changeup was working, too.”

Ryu's performance on Saturday pulls his ERA down from 13.50 to 9.00.

Fellow Korean big leaguer Choi Ji-man of the Rays sat out Saturday's game.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]