Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays Box Score on Jun 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 14, 2017

TORONTO -- Russell Martin led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a go-ahead home run and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-6 on Wednesday night.

Martin hit his sixth home run of the season against Tampa Bay left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado (0-1) after the Rays tied the score with three runs in the top of the eighth.

Kendrys Morales hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs and starting pitcher Francisco Liriano struck out nine in seven innings as the Blue Jays (32-33) gained a split in the two-game set. Liriano allowed three runs (two earned), five hits and two walks.

Logan Morrison hit a two-run homer for the Rays (35-33) against Toronto reliever Joe Smith (3-0), who got the win despite coughing up a three-run lead in the eighth. Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save of the season.

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi allowed five runs (three earned), five hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He gave up the home run to Morales, the ninth straight game in which the right-hander has yielded at least one homer.

After taking the lead with a four-run fifth, Toronto tacked on a run in the sixth when Martin scored on a wild pitch by reliever Chase Whitley on a strikeout of Kevin Pillar.

Martin led off the inning with a single followed by a single by Dwight Smith Jr., a seemingly routine fly that dropped in among fielders who lost sight of the ball in the twilight with the roof open. Ryan Goins sacrificed the runners to second and third.

Evan Longoria extended his hitting streak to five games when he led off the eighth with a single against Smith. Morrison followed with his 19th homer of the season.

Steven Souza Jr. walked and pinch-hitter Colby Rasmus sent him to third with single. Derek Norris tied the score with a sacrifice fly.

Corey Dickerson hit a two-run triple in the third inning to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead. It scored Taylor Featherston, who reached first base on an error by Goins at second and Peter Bourjos, who trickled an infield single up the third-base line that stayed fair.

The Blue Jays got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Pillar walked, stole second as Josh Donaldson struck out and continued to third on the throwing error by catcher Norris. Jose Bautista walked and Pillar scored when Morales forced Bautista at second on a grounder to second.

The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning on two walks on a bunt single by Mallex Smith. They scored only one run, however, on a sacrifice fly by Featherston.

Goins led off the fifth inning with a single. He was running when Featherston committed an error on Pillar's grounder to second and continued to third. He scored on Bautista's single up the middle that left runners at the corners for Morales, who lined a 3-1 splitter to right for his 13th homer of the season to give Toronto a 5-3 lead.

NOTES: Toronto OF Ezequiel Carrera (right foot fracture) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday after fouling a ball off his foot in Tuesday's game. OF Dwight Smith Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take his place on the roster and started in left field Wednesday. ... Rays SS Tim Beckham (sore right knee) missed his third straight game Wednesday. ... The Blue Jays have Thursday off before continuing their five-game homestand Friday against the White Sox when they start RHP Joe Biagini (1-5, 3.38 ERA) against Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (2-8, 5/.30 ERA). ... The Rays will start RHP Alex Cobb (5-5, 4.29 ERA) Thursday against Detroit Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (4-4, 4.68 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series at Comerica Park.