Rays pummel Blue Jays
TORONTO -- Brad Miller had three hits and three RBIs and Chris Archer pitched six innings as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 12-2 on Tuesday night.
Taylor Motter, playing in just his second game, hit his first major-league homer -- a two-run shot in the ninth against Toronto right-hander Drew Storen as a pinch-hitter for Miller.
Motter was called up from Triple-A on Sunday and had his first major-league hit in his first game on Monday.
Logan Morrison added two RBIs for the Rays who outhit the Blue Jays 17-5 in winning the first two games of the three-game series while giving the Blue Jays their fourth loss in a row.
Tampa Bay outhit Toronto 17-8 on Monday in a 13-2 win.
Rays right-hander Chris Archer (3-4) allowed four hits, four walks and two runs while striking out seven in six innings for his third straight winning decision over five starts.
Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman (4-1) allowed a career-high 13 hits and seven runs in 5 2/3 innings. He had two walks and two strikeouts.
He had won his nine previous decisions dating to Sept. 20, 2014. He missed most of last season with knee surgery.
Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays.
The Rays (18-19) reached double-digits in runs for the second straight game against the Blue Jays (19-22) when they scored three unearned runs in the seventh against reliever Pat Venditte, who pitches both left and right.
Kevin Kiermaier hit an infield single with two out.
Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson committed errors on successive grounders by Curt Casali and Brandon Guyer and Miller hit a two-run double to increase the Rays’ lead to 10-2.
Jimmy Paredes pinch-hit for Bautista in the eighth to make his Blue Jays debut and hit a single on a line drive that hit right-handed reliever Ryan Webb, who went down but as able to finish the inning.
Evan Longoria singled with two out in the first and Steve Pearce doubled to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.
Michael Saunders walked to lead off the bottom of the first and Bautista hit a one-out laser to center for his seventh homer of the season to put Toronto ahead 2-1.
Logan Morrison doubled with one out in the second inning, took third on Kiermaier's double and scored on Casali's groundout to third. Guyer grounded an RBI single to left and Brad Miller hit an RBI-triple to center and the Rays led 4-2.
The Rays took a 5-2 lead in the third on singles by Steven Souza Jr. and Corey Dickerson and a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop by Morrison.
Pearce walked to lead off the fifth, took third on Dickerson's one-out double. Morrison and Kiermaier followed with RBI singles and Tampa Bay led 7-2.
NOTES: Toronto manager John Gibbons has been suspended three games after the brawl Sunday at Texas. Gibbons, ejected earlier for arguing balls and strikes, returned to the field in the eighth inning when the benches emptied. Bench coach DeMarlo Hale will fill in. Rangers 2B Rougned Odor was suspended eight games for punching Toronto RF Jose Bautista, who is appealing his one-game suspension. RHP Jesse Chavez was suspended for three games for intentionally hitting Rangers 1B Prince Fielder with a pitch. First base coach Tim Leiper was suspended one game. ... Toronto activated INF Jimmy Paredes (left wrist) from the disabled list Tuesday and returned INF Andy Burns to Triple-A Buffalo. Paredes was claimed Monday off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. ... Toronto recalled LHP/RHP Pat Venditte and returned RHP Dustin Antolin to Buffalo. ... Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 3.82 ERA) will start the finale of the three-game series Wednesday against Blue Jays RHP R.A. Dickey (2-4, 4.31 ERA).