Blue Jays rally past Rays on Martin's homer
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Down 3-1 in the seventh and facing a potential sweep against the last -place Tampa Bay Rays, the Toronto Blue Jays rallied back and got a two-run homer from Russell Martin in the eighth on the way to a 5-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (58-77) saw their bullpen spoil a strong start from starter Chris Archer, who struck out nine in six-plus innings and held the Blue Jays to five hits and two runs.
Toronto (77-59) got only 2 2/3 innings from starter J.A. Happ but got 6 1/3 innings of scoreless, two-hit relief from four relievers, holding onto a share of first place in the American League East. Robert Osuna pitched a perfect ninth for his 30th save.
Brad Boxberger inherited a runner with one out in the seventh, gave up a single and walk to load the bases, then gave up a two-run single to Devon Travis -- again productive out of the No. 9 spot in the batting order -- to tie the game.
Kevin Jepsen fared no better in the eighth, giving up a walk to Dioner Navarro and then a two-run homer to Russell Martin, his 17th, for a 5-3 lead.
Navarro had given Toronto a 1-0 lead with an RBI single to score Edwin Encarnacion, who had doubled with two outs in the top of the first. Facing 17-game winner J.A. Happ, the Rays jumped ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the first, getting an RBI double from Evan Longoria and a sacrifice fly from Matt Duffy.
The Rays extended their lead to 3-1 in the third on three straight singles from Duffy, Steven Souza and Corey Dickerson.
The Jays had plenty of chances earlier -- Encarnacion struck out with runners at second and third to end the third inning, and fouled out with the bases loaded to end the seventh with the game tied at 3-3.
The Rays stay home for a three-game series against the Orioles, while Toronto now goes to the Yankees for a three-game series.
NOTES: Rays OF Kevin Kiermaier had a bunt single and home run in the same game Saturday, a first in his major league career. He has four bunt singles this year, as many as all of his Rays teammates combined. ... Jays 3B Josh Donaldson entered Sunday's game with six home runs in his previous nine games, a torrid stretch in which he is hitting .412 with 11 RBIs and another six walks. He also entered with a 12-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the American League but behind Atlanta's Ender Inciarte (14) for the major league lead. ... Rays 2B Logan Forsythe came into Sunday's game with a .447 average against Toronto this season, tied with Wade Boggs in 1985 for sixth-best all-time.