The Toronto Blue Jays (87-69) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (95-62) 9-5 on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field. Going into the final week of the season, the Rays are now 2.5 games behind the Orioles in the AL East race.
The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to RBI singles from Isaac Paredes and Junior Caminero. However, the Blue Jays exploded for a five-run second inning, thanks in part to a three-run inside-the-park home run from George Springer.
The Rays were able to pull within 6-5 in the seventh inning when Isaac Paredes hit a two-run homer, his 30th of the season. Toronto answered with one run in the eighth and two in the ninth to pull away with a 9-5 win.
Taj Bradley (5-8, 5.52) got the start and worked seven innings, but took the loss after allowing six earned runs on seven hits in which he struck out four and walked two.
The Rays are now off on Monday and head to Boston for a short two-game series against the Red Sox coming up on Tuesday. Zach Eflin (15-8, 3.44) is scheduled to start for the Rays, against Tanner Houck (5-9, 4.62) for the Red Sox. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:10 PM - Ronnie & T-Kras being pregame coverage with the Inside Pitch at 6:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES