Rays 11, Blue Jays 5: Tampa Bay sent 12 batters to the plate in a six-run fifth inning and leadoff man Desmond Jennings had three hits and scored four runs as the host Rays kept up their hot hitting and extended their winning streak to four games.
Jennings, Evan Longoria, Jose Molina and B.J. Upton all homered for the Rays, who moved within 3 1/2 games of Oakland for the American League's second wild card. Tampa Bay has won 13 of 17 meetings with Toronto this season, including seven straight at Tropicana Field.
Neither starting pitcher had a good day. Blue Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow (8-7) allowed five runs over four innings and Rays lefty Matt Moore lasted just 2 2/3 innings - the shortest outing of his young career - as he gave up two runs on three hits. Burke Badenhop (3-2) earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief.
Longoria's three-run blast off the catwalk beyond the left-field fence gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead in the second, and Jennings added his 13th homer, a solo shot, in the fourth. Molina and Upton both hit two-run homers in the six-run fifth.
Brett Lawrie had two hits and scored twice while Adam Lind had three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have lost five straight and nine of 11 to fall a season-worst 18 games under .500.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The 43 runs the Rays have scored during their winning streak are their most ever in a four-game span. … Moore has not made it past the fourth inning in his last three outings. He has allowed 16 runs (13 earned) in 16 frames over four September starts. … Blue Jays SS Yunel Escobar returned to the lineup after missing four games - three because of suspension - after writing an anti-gay message in his eye black during Sunday's contest. Escobar batted fifth and went 0-for-4.
Toronto | Tampa Bay | |
Brandon Morrow | Player | Matt Moore |
Loss | W/L | No Decision |
4.0 | IP | 2.2 |
2 | Strikeouts | 2 |
5 | Hits | 3 |
11.25 | ERA | 6.75 |
Toronto | Tampa Bay | |
Rajai Davis | Player | Desmond Jennings |
2 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 1 |
3 | TB | 6 |
.500 | Avg | 1.000 |