Jays eliminate Rays on Carrera's pinch-hit homer
TORONTO -- Ezequiel Carrera led off the eighth inning with a pinch-hit home run, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 Monday night.
The loss eliminated the Rays (60-83) from postseason contention while the Blue Jays (79-64) hold second in the American League East.
Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays.
Evan Longoria and Brad Miller homered for the Rays.
Neither starter factored in the decision. Toronto's Francisco Liriano allowed three hits, two of them home runs, one walk and two runs in 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander struck out six in his first start since Aug. 26.
Tampa Bay right-hander Jake Odorizzi allowed four hits, one walk and two runs while striking out four in seven innings.
Devon Travis led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a hustling double to left-center to extend his hitting streak to nine games. It was the Blue Jays' third double of the game.
Bautista hit his 18th homer of the season, a two-out shot to left, on the first pitch to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead.
Longoria hit the first pitch of the top of the seventh inning to left for his 32nd homer of the season, and Miller followed with his 28th homer, a drive to center on a 1-0 pitch to tie the game.
It was the third time this season that the Rays hit back-to-back homers.
Joaquin Benoit replaced Liriano after Nick Franklin fouled out to first and survived a walk and an error by third baseman Darwin Barney.
Jason Grilli (6-5) replaced Benoit and pitched a perfect eighth.
Carrera, batting for Barney, hit the first pitch of the eighth inning from reliever Brad Boxberger (3-1) down the left field line for his fifth home run of the season. It was the second pinch-hit home run of his career.
Roberto Osuna pitched around a two-out single in the ninth to earn his 32nd save of the season. The game ended on a deep fly to center by Steven Souza Jr. and then the benches emptied and congregated near first bases. Order was restored quickly.
The Blue Jays had a baserunner in each of the first three innings: a walk by Edwin Encarnacion in the first, and two-out doubles by Kevin Pillar and Michael Saunders in the second and third, respectively.
They might have had another double, at least, in the fourth, but Rays right fielder Souza crashed into the wall to make the catch on a drive by Troy Tulowitzki for the third out.
After Logan Forsythe hit a leadoff single in the Rays' first inning to extend his hitting streak to five games, Liriano retired the next 14 batters before he walked Souza with two outs in the fifth. Richie Shaffer struck out to end the inning.
NOTES: Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson, who went 0-for-23 in his previous seven games, did not start Monday. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Donaldson was "beat up" and needed a break but would play Tuesday. INF Darwin Barney started at third base. ... Rays 1B Logan Morrison (left wrist) was injured while swinging at a pitch in the fourth inning Sunday at Yankee Stadium and will return to St. Petersburg, Fla., on Wednesday to be checked by a hand specialist. Morrison said his season is over. ... The Rays selected the contract of LHP Dana Eveland from Triple-A Durham and designated RHP Tyler Sturdevant for assignment. ... Rays LHP Drew Smyly (6-11, 5.05 ERA) will face Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman (9-7, 4.55 ERA) on Tuesday in the second game of the three-game series.