Recap: Toronto vs. Tampa Bay
Sports Network | September 06, 2008
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Gregg Zaun's grand slam in the bottom of the 13th inning capped Toronto's 7-4 gut-wrenching victory over Tampa Bay in the second of three meetings with the Rays. After the Blue Jays blew a three-run lead in the ninth, the Rays went ahead for the first time in the game in the away 13th on Dioner Navarro's two-out, RBI single. Toronto showed some metal in its season-high seventh straight victory, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk in the bottom half off Tampa closer Troy Percival. Zaun stepped in with two outs and smashed the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall for the game-winner. Brian Tallet (1-1) allowed Shawn Camp's inherited run in the 13th but was credited with the win. Zaun, Joe Inglett and Lyle Overbay each had three hits, with Overbay adding two solo homers. Percival (2-1) blew his fourth save of the season for the struggling Rays, who have dropped four of five, and saw their lead in the AL East temporarily drop to two games over Boston for the first time since June 29. The Red Sox will play at the Texas later Saturday. Rocco Baldelli had two hits, including a pinch-hit, two-run blast in the ninth, while Akinori Iwamura reached base five times with three singles and a pair of walks. Toronto starter Shaun Marcum took the unfortunate no decision, allowing four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. His counterpart, James Shields, served up three runs on six hits and two walks in eight innings for Tampa Bay. Alex Rios, who homered twice in Toronto's 6-4 win over the Rays on Friday, got the Blue Jays started with an RBI double in the first. Overbay then launched a line-drive homer deep into the stands in center to lead off the second, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead. Overbay took Shields deep to the opposite field in the fourth, a high fly ball that cleared the fence down the line in left, and his 14th homer of the season gave the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead, which held up until the ninth. There, the Rays came back to tie the game off of Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan. Ryan started the ninth by beaning Carlos Pena, and then Baldelli came through with a pinch-hit blast into the stands in left. The homer, Baldelli's third since returning to the Rays, cut the Blue Jays lead to one run. Willy Aybar then worked a walk, and pinch-runner Fernando Perez stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. Justin Ruggiano then fanned for the first out, but Navarro sent a hard grounder up the middle that went through the legs of Inglett and into center. The error allowed Perez to score the tying run, but Navarro was thrown out at second as he tried to move up on the throw to the plate. Ryan struck out Jason Bartlett to end the frame. Game Notes The Jays sent nine pitchers to the mound, while Tampa used six hurlers... Before the game, the Rays activated third baseman Evan Longoria from the 15- day disabled list. Longoria, battling a wrist injury, did not play Saturday and will see limited action as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement for the time being...Tampa was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 total. Toronto left eight runners on base. Game Notes The Jays sent nine pitchers to the mound, while Tampa used six hurlers... Before the game, the Rays activated third baseman Evan Longoria from the 15- day disabled list. Longoria, battling a wrist injury, did not play Saturday and will see limited action as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement for the time being...Tampa was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 total. Toronto left eight runners on base.
