Blue Jays 5, Rays 4
TORONTO -- Josh Donaldson homered with two out in the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Sunday.
The third baseman's homer gave the Blue Jays (90-65) a sweep of the three-game series against the Rays (75-81) and their fourth win in a row.
They entered the day with a four-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East.
Left-hander Brett Cecil (4-5) pitched the ninth to earn the win in the final home regular season game of the season for the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak drove in three runs with a double and a two-run homer in a three-hit game.
Center fielder Mikie Mahtook hit a two-run homer for the Rays.
Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle allowed five hits, one walk and four runs while striking out five in six innings and did not factor in the decision.
Rays right-hander Matt Andriese allowed three hits, one walk and one run in three innings in his first start for the Rays since July 7. His outing was shortened because he has been used in relief since being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Aug. 19.
The Rays scored once in the first when left fielder Brandon Guyer led off with a triple and came home on a two-out single by designated hitter Logan Forsythe.
The Blue Jays answered with a run in their first when Donaldson walked, designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion singled and Smoak hit a ground-rule double.
Tampa Bay regained the lead in the third after Guyer was hit by a pitch and Mahtook followed with his sixth homer of the season.
Singles by right fielder Steven Souza Jr. and second baseman Tim Beckham and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Richie Shaffer increased the Tampa Bay lead to 4-1 in the fourth.
Smoak hit his 17th homer of the season on a 3-2 pitch from right-hander Brandon Gomes in the sixth after Encarnacion walked with one out.
Smoak singled with one out in the eighth against right-hander Alex Colome. Outfielder Dalton Pompey ran for him. Pompey stole second with two out and scored on a double by center fielder Kevin Pillar to tie the game at 4.
Right-hander Steve Geltz (2-6), the eighth Rays pitcher of the game, took over in the bottom of the ninth and got two outs before giving up the 41st homer of the year by Donaldson.
NOTES: The Rays were facing a left-handed starter for the 12th time in 20 games Sunday in Blue Jays LHP Mark Buehrle. ... The Rays started INF Richie Shaffer at first base and OF Mikie Mahtook in center field Sunday to get more right-handed bats into the lineup against Buehrle. ... The Rays have Monday off before opening a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday at Tropicana Field. LHP Matt Moore (2-4, 6.48 ERA) will start for the Rays. A starter had not been named for Miami. ... The Blue Jays open a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday at Camden Yards. RHP Marco Estrada (13-8, 3.13 ERA) will start for Toronto against Baltimore RHP (Chris Tillman, 10-11, 5.16 ERA).