Russell Martin hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Blue Jays overcome a poor start by 17-game victor J.A. Happ and avoid a three-game sweep with a 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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In the fourth, Russell Martin struck out and had a few words for the umpire as he walked off the field.
“Took the heat for everybody”, Martin said.
“I think the game turned at that point”. 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.
“You need to find ways to stay in a game by grinding out at bats and stringing together good at bats”, Duffy said.
The Rays extended their lead to 3-1 in the third on three straight singles from Duffy, Steven Souza and Corey Dickerson. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria is two homers shy of his career high of 33, set in 2009, but is just 1-for-15 in his last four games. 2.
Roberto Osuna got three outs for his 30th save.
The Rays got one run back in the second inning against Toronto starter, and eventual loser, Stroman.
“That’s a huge job by the bullpen keeping us in the game”, Happ said.
Both lineups face tough pitchers on Saturday as the Rays throw rookie left-hander Blake Snell (4-7, 3.56 ERA) and the Jays answer with righty Marco Estrada (8-6, 3.37 ERA).
The Toronto Blue Jays have played better than.500 baseball against their three closest competitors in the American League East this season, but the last-place Tampa Bay Rays are another story.
The Blue Jays tied it at 3 in the seventh on Devon Travis’ two-run single off Brad Boxberger, costing Archer a shot at his ninth win.
The Rays opend the game up with four runs in the eighth inning.
“We had one big inning that we put it together”, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. With two outs, Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson reached base, putting the unsafe Encarnacion at the plate.
TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays added seven players to their roster on Friday, inlcluding Canadian outfielder Dalton Pompey. Instead of keeping their current rotation order of Estrada, Happ and Dickey, the Blue Jays would be well-served to pitch Estrada, Happ and Sanchez instead in next weekend’s series.
The Rays, at 9-7, are the only AL East team with a winning record against Toronto this season.
Looking ahead, the Jays will travel to the Bronx for three road games against the New York Yankees this coming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (September 5, 6 and 7).
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. Rays catcher Bobby Wilson, left, looks on.
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“That last inning, a bloop hit, I couldn’t make the play on a bunt, next thing you know it’s 5-1”, Estrada said.
