DUNEDIN (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a late 3-1 deficit, scoring four runs in the final two innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Sunday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
Back-to-back singles from Jake Bauers and Dayron Varona off Bo Schultz got the rally started in the eighth, with both runners moving up a base on a wild pitch as Jace Conrad struck out. Andrew Velazquez singled in Bauers to cut the deficit to 3-2, and Casey Gillaspie's base hit brought in Varona, and when Darell Ceciliani couldn't handle the baseball cleanly, Velazquez came all the way around from first base to break the tie.
A throwing error in the ninth on a Varona grounder added an insurance run.
Toronto started the scoring in the home second, as Jose Bautista led off the inning with a double into the left field corner, stole third base, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Steve Pearce.
Tampa Bay countered in the top of the third, with Corey Dickerson singling off Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman with one out, taking second on a wild pitch and scoring two batters later on a base hit by Evan Longoria.
Cobb needed just 37 pitches to get through three innings, allowing just the single run on three hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one. Ryan Garton and Justin Marks with an inning of scoreless relief apiece.
Jake Faria allowed the tie to be broken in the sixth, giving up a pair of runs on an RBI fielder's choice by John Berti and RBI single from Pearce
Jaime Schulz again made a case for why he should start the season in the big leagues. Schulz struck out the side on 11 pitches, with his fastball topping out at 98 miles per hour.
The Rays (6-3-1) will have Monday off before a Tuesday matchup at Steinbrenner Field against the New York Yankees. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.
Listen to comments from manager Kevin Cash and pitchers Alex Cobb and Jaime Schulz below!