Blue Jays get key hits to top Rays 9-4
ST. PETERSBURG (AP) — Toronto turned key hits into a rare road victory.
Alex Rios and Marco Scutaro homered and the Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep with a 9-4 victory over the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. (View photo gallery)
Scutaro hit a three-run homer off Edwin Jackson (5-7) during the fifth to put the Blue Jays ahead 6-4. Rios had a two-run homer in the third and added a run-scoring double during a three-run seventh that extended Toronto's lead to 9-4.
Reliever Shawn Camp (3-1) threw 1 2-3 scoreless innings for the win. The Blue Jays won for just the fourth time in their last 17 road games.
Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena had back-to-back homers for the Rays, who dropped to 38-15 at home this season. Tampa Bay took two of three in the weekend series, but has lost eight of 10 overall.
"Two out of three ain't bad," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We did not pitch like we normally do today, and that's why they beat us."
(Pictured: Edwin Jackson wipes the sweat off his brow as Marco Scutaro rounds the bases. Times photo -- Dirk Shadd. Click to enlarge.)
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
Why does this team keep Jackson in the rotation????????????? Get him out of the rotation,now!!!!!!He cant concentrate to be a satrter, Try Hammel,Neiumann,or even Price. ORsome package Jackson,Hammel,Baldelli,Gomes,Zobrist,Gomes,shouls land you a starter.Just get jackson out of there!,try in bullpen,no more than one inning,thats al he can focus for
Posted by: DannyD | July 22, 2008 at 05:33 AM
I think Jackson is just filling space that will be occupied by Price once he is ready; at which point (depending on whether the trade deadline has passed) we will either move E-Jack to the long reliever role or trade him as part of a Gomes-Jackson-"Player to be Named" trade for some right-handed help.
...and on Friday, I made a prediction that said the Rays would be in 1st place on Saturday morning...
Go ahead look back, I'll wait...
You all owe me $50.
GO RAYS!!! I'll see you scumbags out against the A's. Lets fill the trop for 3 days. The team feeds off the excitement.
Posted by: Ray F | July 21, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Alright, Gomes isn't that good. But, every team has a guy who brings energy. Gomes is that guy. He can steal bases and hustles. He the equivalent of the enforcer in hockey.
Posted by: nick | July 21, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I'm a Gomes fan and I think it is make it or break it time during this stretch. I just wish he would have planted his forearm in Zaun's chest protector on that play at home.
Posted by: Brian | July 21, 2008 at 09:18 AM
If the Rays wants to contend, they need to make a move right now. I MEAN NOW!!! Acquire Xavier Nady and Marte/Grabow for Niemann, Talbot, and PTBN. Release Jonny Gomes. Why does Maddon keep on marching this guy in the lineup? When Jonny Gomes plays, the team loses. I don't want to seem him on the team again. Maddon trust his guys way too much. This is why the Upton's and Pena's of the world don't hit. I had always been a Steve Henderson basher. This guy should take some heat for the inconsistent offense. Upton, Pena, and Crawford should be way better than what they had shown at the plate. They also need a super utility guy like Willie Harris or Mark Grudzielanek for veteran presence.
Posted by: Edgar | July 20, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Jackson is like a box of chocolates.......... :)
That said, he needs to hand out with Garza or do something about his flat fastball.....he's got the tools but he's got to get some movement on the ball.
Posted by: Bill | July 20, 2008 at 11:07 PM
It sure seems like we can't stand prosperity. However, on the brighter side, CBS Sportsline is reporting that the Sawks elimination number is 63.
Posted by: Sarasota Ralph | July 20, 2008 at 09:13 PM
HAVE WE NOT BEEN TEASED BY EDWIN JACKSON LONG ENOUGH. MAYBE HE COULD BE PART OF A PACKAGE W/ JOHNNY GOMES AND HANSEN TO GET US A DEPENDABLE RH HITTER, I THINK MADDEN IS WRONG BY STATING THAT WE LOST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PITCH AS WELL AS WE EXPECTED. THESE TWO GUYS PITCHED EXACTLY THE WAY I'VE COME TO EXPECT. ALSO IF SOMEONE BLOWS UP BEFORE FIVE INNINGS WHY LEAVE THEM IN UNTIL LEADS ARE LOST AND WE GET DOWN A COUPLE OF RUNS.WE DO HAVE SOME EXCELLENT LONG RELIEVERS AND MORE ARMS IN THE PIPELINE. THE RAYS HAVE IN GENERAL SPOILED US TO WHERE WE EXPECT A LOT I KNOW.
Posted by: dave | July 20, 2008 at 07:40 PM