Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Kevin Jepsen walks off the mound as Toronto Blue Jays’ Russell Martin runs around the bases after his two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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In other games, the Los Angeles Angels trounced the Seattle Mariners 10-3, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees 2-0, the Minnesota Twins toppled the Chicago White Sox 11-3, and the Arizona Diamondbacks were 9-4 winners against the Colorado Rockies. It also allows Toronto to escape Tampa with at least an even record on the road trip.
The big outburst came against right-hander Marco Estrada (8-7), who had given up just two singles in the first five innings.
Like the first two games of the series, the Blue Jays struck first. “We have an opportunity here this last month to see some guys play”, manager Kevin Cash said. Tulowitzki had a pair of singles while Josh Donaldson walked twice.
Yadier Molina had two of the Cardinals’ five hits as they avoided being swept in Cincinnati for the first time since July 2012. Toronto had won five of six and led the AL East by two games before arriving in Tampa Bay, but it gave up a total of 13 runs in the sixth and seventh innings the last two nights and has fallen into a tie with Boston atop the division.
“My stuff feels as sharp as it’s been all year”, Stroman said. Toronto is 6-9 against Tampa Bay and 25-16 against the rest of the AL East this season, and 31-61 at Tropicana Field since 2006.
“He might have looked a little rusty early but it’s been a while since he’s been in the big leagues, and he’s always been one of the better competitors in the game”, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “That’s a club full of fighters”. Now they have their ace on the mound in Archer to go head-to-head with Happ, who is struggling right now. Martin has now homered in eight of his last 18 games.
Edwin Encarnacion drove in Toronto’s first run with a single for his 108th RBI. But the bullpen picked him up, as Danny Barnes and Scott Feldman kept the Rays in check until the Jays could tie it up and then the high-leverage trio of Joaquin Benoit, Jason Grilli and Roberto Osuna saw the victory through.
Pompey had just come on to pinch hit for designated hitter Dioner Navarro, a late-inning role that he excelled in last season. The 33-year-old Northwestern product held Tampa Bay to four hits over six scoreless innings to win on August 10 and is 3-3 lifetime with a 4.87 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) versus the Rays.
Despite the ability to expand rosters in September, Tampa Bay still had just three position players on the bench on Sunday: C Luke Maile, 1B Logan Morrison and utilityman Nick Franklin.
“I give (the Rays) credit”, said Happ, who ended up with a no-decision, leaving his season record at 17-4. After allowing a one-out single to Troy Tulowitski, Kevin Cash removed him in favor of Brad Boxberger.
Gausman (7-10) allowed two hits and two walks over six innings to win his fourth straight start.
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Meanwhile, the Rays are 5-1 in their last six game threes of a series, and 4-1 in their last five Sunday games. The Jays have won just one season series against the Rays dating back to 2006 and that came in 2014.
