DUNEDIN (WDAE) -- Kevin Kiermaier's sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning scored Joey Wendle to break a 1-1 tie and give the Tampa Bay Rays a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday at Dunedin Stadium.
Both sides worked efficiently through the first half of the game. Toronto's Aaron Sanchez tossed four innings of one-hit baseball, walking one and striking out three. Meanwhile, Rays opener Ryan Merritt got a double play to keep the Blue Jays off the board in the first, and Ryne Stanek worked around a single, a fielding error by Yandy Diaz, and a hit batter to put up a scoreless second. Adam Kolarek and Oliver Srake each added a perfect inning of relief each.
Hunter Wood allowed Toronto to take the lead in the home half of the sixth, walking Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes AGurriel Jr. before Kevin Pillar's single put the Blue Jays in the lead.
Tampa Bay immediately tied the game, as Yandy Diaz singled to lead off the seventh. Pinch-runner Miles Mastrobuoni stole second base and scored on a double by Wendle. A errant pickoff throw by Ryan Tepera allowed Wendle to take third base, and Kiermaier's sacrifice fly broke the tie.
Hoby Milner struck out four in pitch a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, and Andrew Kittredge allowed a two-out walk to Luke Maile, but stranded him at first base to end the game.
The win is Tampa Bay's third straight and gets the Rays record in the Grapefruit League back to .500 at 9-9-1.
The Rays have Wednesday off before welcoming the Philadelphia Phillies to Charlotte Sports Park on Thursday.