Smoak homers as Blue Jays end 3-game skid
TORONTO -- Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer, Francisco Liriano pitched into the sixth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays ended a three-game losing streak by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The teams have split the first two games of the season with the rubber match to be played Sunday.
Liriano (2-2) allowed four hits, four walks and one run and had six strikeouts in five-plus innings.
Struggling closer Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save in five opportunities.
Tampa Bay starter Matt Andriese (1-1) allowed five hits, three walks and four runs (three earned) while striking out four in seven innings.
The Blue Jays scored (7-17) a run in the first inning on a throwing error by Rays shortstop Tim Beckham on a grounder by Kendrys Morales. Jose Bautista, who had walked with two out, came around from first to score on the errant throw.
The Rays (12-13) tied the game in the second on a reversed call. Liriano walked Beckham and Daniel Robertson with one out. Jesus Sucre singled to right and Beckham was called out at home on the throw from Bautista. The call was changed to safe after a video review.
Toronto regained the lead with one run in the fourth on a single by Smoak and a double by Russell Martin.
Joe Biagini replaced Liriano with two on and none out in the sixth after Rickie Weeks Jr. walked and third baseman Chris Coghlan's error on a grounder by Corey Dickerson. Biagini kept the 2-1 lead intact with two strikeouts and a groundout and also pitched a scoreless seventh.
The Blue Jays added to the lead in the bottom of sixth on Smoak's fourth homer, a drive to center. It scored Bautista, who had walked, stole second and took third on a groundout.
Joe Smith pitched around a single and a walk in the eighth inning for Toronto, which ended on a fly out to deep center by Logan Morrison.
NOTES: Rays RF Steven Souza Jr. left the game in the seventh inning Saturday after being hit on the hand by a pitch from Toronto RHP Joe Biagini. X-rays were negative and he was diagnosed with a left hand contusion. ... Toronto CF Kevin Pillar reached base a career-best five times in Tampa Bay's 7-4 win on Friday. Pillar had two doubles, a homer, a single and a walk. ... Toronto RHP Marcus Stroman struck out 10 in 7 1/3 innings Friday, his second-highest career strikeout total. His career best is 13 against the Astros on Aug. 1 at Houston. ... The Rays hit three home runs in the eighth inning Friday, the first time in franchise history they have had a three-homer inning in the eighth inning or later. ... Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (2-1, 3.94 ERA) will face Blue Jays RHP Aaron Sanchez (0-1, 4.38 ERA) in the series finale Sunday. Sanchez has been on the disabled list with a blister on his right middle finger.