Manager John Gibbons’ ejection turned into a key moment for the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
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Russell Martin hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Toronto Blue Jays overcome a poor start by 17-game victor J.A. Happ and avoid a three-game sweep by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Sunday.
“(Cobb) got a couple of innings under his belt”, said Gibbons.
He hit the homer off Joe Biagini in the seventh inning, Biagini had not allowed a home run in 55.2-innings of work this season. As Martin walked away still arguing, Hoberg took notice and seemed to be coming to a moment of decision. The Red Sox – and the rest of the AL East – have a full slate inter-division competition over their last 27 games, including two series each against Baltimore and Toronto.
Martin hit his 17th homer on a 3-0 pitch from Jepsen (2-6). It was Forsythe that broke up Estrada’s no-hitter in the ninth inning of the game a year ago, and it was Forsythe that broke up Estrada’s no-hitter tonight as well; however, this time, he broke the streak in the fourth. I wouldn’t say my stuff is exactly where I want it to be.
The Jays lost their first three Happ starts against the Rays, including a May 16 outing in which he lasted only two innings and gave up eight earned runs.
Joaquin Benoit (3-1) gave up a single and struck out three in a scoreless seventh. Evan Longoria had an RBI double.
Cobb needed 53 pitches to get through the first two innings.
“That’s a huge job by the bullpen keeping us in the game”, Happ said.
He went 2 and ⁄3 innings but pitched 85 pitches in his second shortest start of the season. He was in line to become the first 17-game victor to lose to a 17-game loser (Rays RHP Chris Archer) since Chuck Finley lost to Jack Morris in 1990, but the Blue Jays rallied late for a win.
METS 5, NATIONALS 1: Rookie Seth Lugo allowed one run and six hits over seven innings, and Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce each hit a two-run homer as NY won at home.
Chris Archer struck out nine for Tampa Bay, running his AL-best total to 211. “We have an opportunity here this last month to see some guys play”, manager Kevin Cash said. Morrison walked, Nick Franklin doubled and Corey Dickerson’s ground ball out to second base plated Morrison.
Blue Jays: RHP Gavin Floyd (strained right shoulder) hopes to throw off a mound soon.
I wouldn’t expect Dermody, or Barnes for that matter, to “set the baseball world on fire”, but I think both players can contribute quality innings for the Blue Jays in low-leverage situations. After Friday’s win, they are 15-7 in their last 22 home games, and they continue to be a particular nemesis to the Blue Jays.
Matt Andriese will face off against Ubaldo Jimenez in St. Pete as the Orioles look to make up ground in the home stretch.
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A sweep-averting 5-3 comeback win Sunday afternoon eased the tension after 24 innings of frustration at Tropicana Field, sending them off the Bronx for a Labour Day date with old nemesis Masahiro Tanaka in a much better frame of mind.
