ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- A wild pitch by Alex Colome in the ninth inning proved to be the difference Sunday, breaking a 1-1 tie and allowing the Toronto Blue Jays to salvage the finale of a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays with a 2-1 decision.
ARCHER, ESTRADA TRADE ZEROES EARLY: Rays starter Chris Archer and Toronto's Marco Estrada put up zeroes early in Sunday's contest, though Tampa Bay did have opportunities like in the third when a walk to Mallex Smith, a stolen base, and a base hit by Carlos Gomez put runners on the corners, but Gomez was caught trying to swipe second, and Smith was caught on a straight steal of the plate to keep it a scoreless game.
Toronto got on the board in the fifth, as Anthony Alford doubled off Archer, took third on a fly ball my Luke Maile, and scored on an infield single by Aledmys Diaz, who had to leave the game after hurting his ankle getting tangled up with Archer at the bag.
Estrada would allow four hits and the same number of walks, but did not let a Rays player score in his six innings of work. Archer left after seven innings having allowed only the single run on five hits.
GOMEZ GOES DEEP AGAIN: After going 0 for 4 in Friday's opener and getting a day off Saturday, Gomez's bat seemed to heat up Sunday, as the right fielder went 3 for 4, including blasting a solo home run off Ryan Tepera in the bottom of the eighth that tied the game.
The day raised his batting average 19 points all the way to .200 on the season, which he has not been above since April 13.
COLOME'S SPIKED PITCH BREAKS TIE: After getting five out to sew up a save Saturday, the Rays went back to Alex Colome in a tie ballgame Saturday. Kevin Pillar started the inning with an opposite-field double and moved to third on a groundout by Kendrys Morales. Tampa Bay elected to play the infield in against Anthony Alford, but the first pitch went past Wilson Ramos to the backstop, and Pillar scampered home with what would be the winning run.
The Rays got the winning run to the plate with one out against Roberto Osuna, but the Toronto closer got Smith to ground into a fielder's choice and Gomez to ground out to end the game and give the Blue Jays the finale.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Monday - OFF
Tuesday - Rays vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Wednesday - Rays vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Thursday - OFF