Rays fall to Blue Jays 5-4 in extra innings

Despite all the road magic lately, the Rays couldn't pull this one out. The Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Toronto Blue Jays. Jeremy Hellickson pitched well for the Rays, allowing two runs in six and a third innings. He was opposed by soft throwing Mark Buerhle, who yielding three runs in more than six innings (6.1), giving the Blue Jays a quality start for the first time in nearly a week. Joel Peralta was tagged with the loss while Dustin McGowan received credit for the win.

The Rays collected four hits in the third inning but only managed one run. Yunel Escobar led off the inning with a single but was quickly eliminated when Jose Molina grounded into a double. Munenori Kawasaki double clutched the throw at second to first but was still able to throw the slow footed Molina out to complete the double play. Sean Rodriguez singled through the left side of the infield to give the Rays a baserunner once again. Desmond Jennings then singled on a full count pitch to left-center, allowing Rodriguez to advance to third. Ben Zobrist then laid down a beautiful bunt down the third base line. As the Jays attempted to field the ball, Danny Valencia and Buehrle collided, resulting in no throw and a run for the Rays as Rodriguez crossed the plate. The Rays then loaded the bases as Brandon Guyer reached on an error committed by Valencia. Evan Longoria grounded out to end the inning with the Rays only netting one run on four hits and an error.

The Rays' lead was short lived however, as the Blue Jays struck for two runs in the bottom of the third. Valencia walked with one out and moved to second with two outs on a wild pitch by Hellickson. Jose Reyes hit a hard line drive into left that Guyer dove for a missed as the ball appeared to go over his glove. Reyes ended up with a double and the Blue Jays with a run as Valencia crossed the plate. Melky Cabrera then drove Reyes home with a double of his own to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead. Hellickson struck out to end the inning and limit the damage to two runs.

With one out in the top of the fourth inning, Wil Myers singled to third as Valencia again struggled to make a strong, accurate throw to first, bouncing the ball in front of Lind and allowing the always hustling Myers to reach safely. Myers was then picked off first but was called safe back in by first base umpire Bill Welke. Just as it appeared the next pitch would be thrown, John Gibbons came out of the dugout to ask for a challenge on the call of safe. The call was reviewed and overturned- Myers was out. The Rays then decided to play out the remainder of the game under protest for when the replay was initiated. Escobar struck out looking to end the inning.

Neither team could manage a baserunner until the top of the seventh inning when Logan Forsythe hit a leadoff single to left. Myers then replaced Forsythe at first via a fielder's choice at second. Escobar walked to push Myers into scoring position and Jose Molina of all people drove in Myers with a single up the middle into center. The extra base man Sean Rodriguez followed Molina's single with a double to left, scoring Escobar but not Molina, who only made it to third. That signaled the end for Buerhle, who was replaced by Aaron Sanchez. Sanchez retired Jennings and Zobrist to end the inning with the Rays leading 3-2.

Again the Rays' lead was not meant to last. With Hellickson pitching, Adam Lind hit a fly ball to right field that was caught by Zobrist jumping against the wall, robbing Lind of extra bases. Manager Joe Maddon made the move to bring Brad Boxberger into the game. Edwin Encarnacion hit a ground rule double to left to greet Boxberger. Dioner Navarro followed the double with a two run blast over the wall in right off a fastball after falling behind in the count 0-2. Colby Rasmus doubled to center to prompt Maddon to bring Grant Balfour into the game, who got two outs without any more damage for seemingly the first time this season.

With Casey Janssen on the mound in the ninth, the Rays mounted a comeback to force extra innings. Myers drew a leadoff walk and moved second with one out on a pinch hit single by Kevin Kiermaier. James Loney tied the game with a pinch hit single to left that brought home Myers. Kiermaier ran into an out as he ran past third and couldn't get back to the bag in time as the throw came to third. Jennings then grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

Joel Peralta pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for the Rays.

The Rays were unable to take advantage of a leadoff single by Zobrist in the top of the tenth with the heart of the order behind him. Matt Joyce, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth, popped out and Evan Longoria flew out before Forsythe drew a walk to give the Rays a man in scoring position. Myers flew out to end the threat.

Peralta came out to pitch for the Rays in the top of the tenth. Rasmus laid down a bunt for single to lead off the inning. Peralta struck out the next two batters- Rasmus stole his way into scoring position on the second strikeout. That was the end of Peralta's night. Jeff Beliveau relieved Peralta and served up the game winning hit to Jose Reyes, the first man he faced, on the first (and only) pitch he threw.

The Rays had a streak of 19 consecutive road games without allowing more than three runs (the second longest such streak of all time, 1908 Cubs) broken when Boxberger allowed the two run home run in the seventh.

The Rays will go for a series win tomorrow with at 1:07 ET with Chris Archer taking the mound against Drew Hutchison.