Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 2
When: 7:07 PM ET, Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Temperature:
Indoors
Umpires:
Home -
Cory Blaser, 1B -
Jeff Nelson, 2B -
Lazaro Diaz, 3B -
Chris Guccione
Attendance:
17264
By The Sports Xchange
TORONTO -- Right fielder Steven Souza Jr. hit a long home run in the first inning, then scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth after bunting for a single, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 Tuesday.
Tampa Bay took the opening two games of the four-game series to run its winning streak to four.
Right-handed reliever Steve Geltz (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings to pick up the win. Right-hander Kevin Jepsen pitched the ninth for his first save of the season.
Rays right-hander Matt Andriese, making his first major league start, allowed five hits, one walk and two runs while striking out two in 3 2/3 innings.
Blue Jays left-hander Daniel Norris did not figure in the decision, either, allowing two hits, three walks and two runs with four strikeouts in five innings.
Souza, who had the longest hit of the game, also had the shortest when he started the eighth with a bunt single against Blue Jays rookie right-handed reliever Miguel Castro (0-1).
Souza stole second base with one out and advanced to third on an error charged to catcher Russell Martin on the throw.
Third baseman Evan Longoria was walked intentionally, and outfielder Desmond Jennings hit a sacrifice fly to center to give the Rays a 3-2 lead.
Right-hander Grant Balfour entered the game for the Rays, and Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson greeted him with a long fly ball that was Jennings caught at the left field wall. All three outs in the inning were on long fly balls.
Tampa Bay center fielder Kevin Kiermaier made a superb catch to rob Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis of a hit for the second out of the ninth.
With one out in the first inning, Souza drilled the first pitch he saw from Norris an estimated 463 feet into the third deck in center field, his first homer of the season.
The Rays scored another run in the second. Jennings was hit by a pitch and took second on a wild pitch. Second baseman Logan Forsythe walked and the runners advanced on a double steal. Shortstop Tim Beckham hit a sacrifice fly to left to give the Rays a 2-0 lead.
Andriese left the game in the Blue Jays' two-run fourth that tied the game. Third baseman Josh Donaldson and designated hitter Dioner Navarro started the inning with singles. Left fielder Kevin Pillar drove in a run with a one-out single, and shortstop Jose Reyes tied the game with a two-out double against right-handed reliever Kirby Yates.
NOTES: Rays LHP Drew Smyly (left shoulder tendinitis) made his second rehabilitation start for Class A Charlotte on Tuesday morning, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out four in three scoreless innings. He threw 40 pitches and added 12 in the bullpen after the game. ... C Rene Rivera started at first base for the Rays. The infield alignment allowed manager Kevin Cash to use INF Asdrubal Cabrera at DH "to get him off his feet." Rivera did not play first base during spring training but has played there in winter ball. ... Despite falling 2-1 Monday for their fourth straight loss in a home opener, the Blue Jays are 26-13 in their first home game of the season, including 16-10 at the Rogers Centre. ... Tampa Bay signed LHP Andrew Oliver to a minor league contract. ...The Rays had yet to name a starter for Wednesday to oppose Toronto LHP Mark Buehrle (1-0, 3.00 ERA).
Top Game Performances
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Hits |
HR |
TB |
Avg |
LOB |
K |
RBI |
BB |
SB |
Errors |
Tampa Bay
|
7 |
1 |
11 |
.226 |
17 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
Toronto
|
8 |
0 |
9 |
.229 |
17 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |