Blue Jays 8, Rays 5
Jose Reyes recorded three hits and two RBIs while Steve Tolleson knocked in the go-ahead runs as visiting Toronto scored three in the ninth inning to snap a tie in the opener of the three-game series.
Dan Johnson drew his fourth straight walk to open the ninth, Reyes hit a one-out double and both scored when Tolleson looped a single down the right-field line off Grant Balfour (0-3). Jose Bautista (2-for-4) added his second RBI with a bloop single in the ninth for the Blue Jays, who had blown a four-run lead.
Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Aaron Loup (3-2) struck out three in 1 1/3 innings for the win and Casey Janssen worked the ninth for his 14th save. Sean Rodriguez belted a three-run homer while Ben Zobrist went 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Rays, who stranded nine baserunners.
Munenori Kawasaki and Cabrera notched RBI singles in the third inning before Bautista’s sacrifice fly made it 3-1. Two walks set the table for Reyes’ two-out, two-run single in the fourth off Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer, who struck out seven but gave up five runs in five innings.
The Rays moved closer on Zobrist’s RBI single in their half of the fourth off Mark Buehrle, who is winless in seven starts after yielding two runs and nine hits in five innings. Dustin McGowan walked two with none on and two out in the seventh before Rodriguez launched a 1-1 pitch into the left-field seats to tie the game at 5-5.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tampa Bay CF Desmond Jennings (bruised left knee), who singled and scored his first time up, fouled a pitch off his knee before drawing a walk in the second inning and left the game in the third. Rays C Ryan Hanigan (sore left side) was a late scratch. … The Blue Jays placed 1B-DH Adam Lind (toe) on the 15-day disabled list and called up Johnson, the former Rays 1B-DH who scored three runs Friday, while Toronto’s OF Nolan Reimold (calf) and 2B Kawasaki (hamstring) left the contest with injuries. … The Rays activated SS Yunel Escobar (shoulder) from the disabled list while LHP Jake McGee was placed on the paternity list to make room on the roster.