ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- Jake Odorizzi allowed just two hits over six innings, while the Tampa Bay Rays homered three times off Marco Estrada to earn their third consecutive victory, a 5-2 decision over the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday at Tropicana Feld.
Odorizzi did not start out strong, allowing a solo homer to Josh Donaldson to open the scoring, followed by a walk to Jose Bautista and a double to Kendrys Morales. Troy Tulowitzki then drove in Bautista with a groundout to extend the deficit to 2-0.
The Rays started sluggishly, but caught a spark in the second when Steven Souza Jr. slid into second base as part of a double play and words were exchanged with Tulowitzki, causing the benches to clear.
Tampa Bay was held off the scoreboard in that inning, but got going in the third when Corey Dickerson's opposite-field homer cut the deficit to 2-1. Kevin Kiermaier then tripled, and following a strikeout by Longoria, Brad Miller worked a walk and Souza came up with runners at the corners and made Estrada pay.
Catcher Jesus Sucre stretched the lead to 5-2 an inning later with his first home run of the year, which was also his first hit as a member of the Rays.
Sucre added on in the eighth, as Casey Lawrence again loaded the bases for the catcher, who delivered a two-run single and made it 7-2.
For the first time this season, Kevin Kiermaier also did not play the entire game, as he was ejected in the bottom of the seventh inning by home plate umpire Mike Muchlinksi for arguing balls and strikes.
After the rough first inning, Odorizzi (1-1) settled down and allowed just one base runner in his six innings of work, while the bullpen was perfect until Bautista doubled off Tommy Hunter with two away in the top of the ninth inning. He then induced Morales to line out to Daniel Robertson at shortstop to end the game and clinch the series.
The Rays finish the homestand 5-2, their best record after seven games in franchise history.
Tampa Bay now heads out for its first road trip of 2017, heading to the Bronx to open Yankees Stadium for the regular season. Alex Cobb (1-0, 1.59 ERA) will get the start, taking on Michael Pineda (0-1, 9.82 ERA). First pitch Monday afternoon is scheduled for 1:05, with coverage on WDAE starting at noon with The Inside Pitch, presented by Sykes Lakeland.
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