Blake Snell threw six one-hit inning Saturday, but the bullpen couldn't hold a 1-0 lead as Chaz Roe and Jalen Beeks each allowed runs to the Toronto Blue Jays, as the Tampa Bay Rays saw their winning streak end at five games with a 3-1 defeat at Rogers Centre.
Snell retired the first ten batters in a row before allowing a walk to Justin Smoak, and did not allow a hit until Luke Maile's leadoff single to start the sixth inning, The left-hander struck out nine but was lifted after just 82 pitches.
Tampa Bay took the lead in the top of the sixth, as Willy Adames led off the inning against Clay Buchholz with a double to left and Austin meadows dribbled a ball into left for a single, allowing Adames to take the lead.
Meadows moved to third on a flyout by Tommy Pham, but Ji-man Choi's ground ball got Meadows caught between third and home and he was tagged out for the second out of the inning.
The Rays had a chance to add on in the top of the seventh, as Avisail Garcia ended up at third base with one out thanks to a pair of errors, but was thrown out at the plate by Teoscar Hernandez from left field after Kevin Kiermaier flied out for the second out of the inning.
Chaz Roe, who had not pitched since Sunday, looked like a pitcher who hadn't pitched in nearly a week, allowing an infield single to Justin Smoak and a double by Randal Grichuk two batters later to allow Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to hit, and the Blue Jays second baseman doubled over Kiermaier's head in center to bring in both runners and give Toronto the lead.
The Rays had a chance to tie the game in the eighth, as Mike Zunino tripled to lead off the inning, but Joe Biagini struck out Adames, and after an intentional walk to Meadows, struck out Pham before Tim Mayza struck out pinch-hitter Daniel Robertson to end the threat.
Toronto got an insurance run in the ninth as Jalen Beeks walked Maile and Smoak and Hernandez singled in the catcher to set the score at 3-1.
Ken Giles allowed a single to Brandon Lowe in the ninth but struck out Garcia and got Kiermaier to ground out to notch his fourth save of the season.
Tampa Bay still has the chance to earn a series win with a victory in Sunday's finale.
SUNDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay Rays (11-4) at Toronto Blue Jays (5-10), 1:07 pm first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 11:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.
Rays starter: RHP Charlie Morton (2-0, 2.25 ERA)
Blue Jays starter: RHP Marcus Stroman (0-2, 2.41 ERA)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
MONDAY: OFF
TUESDAY: Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 pm first pitch
WEDNESDAY: Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 pm first pitch
THURSDAY: Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 pm first pitch