American League Game Summary - Tampa Bay at Toronto
(Thursday, April 19th)
Final Score: Tampa Bay 9, Toronto 4
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Desmond Jennings hit a go-ahead solo home run
in the fifth, Evan Longoria added a two-run homer later in the inning and the
Rays downed the Blue Jays, 9-4, in the finale of a three-game series.
Jennings also had an RBI single, Longoria finished with four RBI and Luke
Scott hit a two-run double for Tampa Bay, which has won three of its last four
games, including the final two of this series.
"Great to come back after losing the first night...They have a little bit of
everything that can bother you," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "So to win two
out of three like we did is pretty cool."
Jeremy Hellickson (2-0) earned the win, allowing three runs -- two earned --
on six hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings.
Adam Lind and J.P. Arencibia each hit an RBI double for the Blue Jays, while
Henderson Alvarez (0-1) gave up six runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings in the
loss. Toronto fell to 6-6 on the season.
The Rays went on top for good when Jennings hit a one-out homer to left in the
fifth. Ben Zobrist followed with a walk and Longoria made it 6-3 with a two-
out blast to center.
"The 3-2 pitch [Alvarez made] to a hitter like Longoria, he doesn't miss
those," said Arencibia, who was behind the plate.
Hellickson was relieved by Jake McGee after walking Escobar with two down in
the sixth and McGee was spelled by Burke Badenhop after allowing a single to
Kelly Johnson. Jose Bautista then walked to load the bases, but Lind lined out
to first off of J.P. Howell to end the inning.
Tampa Bay pushed across three more in the ninth. Longoria double home Jennings
and Scott followed with a two-bagger to right to score Carlos Pena and
Longoria.
Brett Lawrie added an RBI groundout in the bottom half to cap the scoring.
Both teams scored a run in the first. Longoria's base hit to right scored
Zobrist, who reached with a single and moved to second on a walk. Yunel
Escobar then led off the bottom half with a single, advanced on a wild pitch
and crossed the plate on Lind's double.
Alvarez hit Matt Joyce to begin the second, then retired the next two batters
before Sean Rodriguez singled to right. Joyce scored on the play, beating the
throw from Bautista, which short-hopped Arencibia at the plate and struck
Alvarez near the face. The righty stayed in the game, but Jennings ripped his
next pitch up the middle for an RBI single and a 3-1 Tampa Bay lead.
Toronto tied it in the fourth. Colby Rasmus reached with a one-out bunt and
scored from first on Arencibia's subsequent double to right. Escobar then
hit a grounder to short and Arencibia scored when Rodriguez threw the ball
past Pena at first.
Game Notes
The Rays completed a 10-day, 10-game road trip (4-6). They will play 13 of
their next 16 games at Tropicana Field, beginning Friday against the
Twins...Tampa Bay claimed outfielder Brandon Allen off waivers from the
Athletics on Thursday. Allen has hit .205 with 11 home runs in parts of four
season with Arizona and Oakland.
04/20 01:19:10 ET

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