Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) – Desmond Jennings drove in the winning run on
an eighth-inning sacrifice fly, as Tampa Bay nipped Toronto by a 3-2 count
in the second contest of a four-game series.
Steven Souza ended up 3-for-5 with a solo homer and scored twice for the Rays,
who have taken two in a row to kick off the set and four straight overall.
Steve Geltz (1-0) tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Kevin Jepsen
closed things out with a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save.
Jose Reyes and Kevin Pillar knocked in a run each for the Blue Jays, who have
lost three of their last four.
Miguel Castro (0-1) took the loss after allowing an unearned run on two hits
while striking out two over 1 1/3 frames.
Souza set up the deciding score when he reached on a bunt to lead off the
eighth. He stole second and reached third on a Russell Martin throwing error,
and, after Evan Longoria drew an intentional walk, scored when Jennings lofted
a fly to center.
Grant Balfour turned in a 1-2-3 bottom of the frame. Jepsen had a brief scare
when Devon Travis belted a ball to right center which center fielder Kevin
Kiermaier erased with a leaping grab up against the electronic scoreboard.
Reyes grounded meekly to second to end the game.
Souza’s first-inning homer put the visitors on the board.
One inning later, Jennings was hit by a pitch, moved up on a passed ball, went
to third after Logan Forsythe walked and swiped second and scored on a Tim
Beckham fly to left.
The Jays finally countered in the fourth on an RBI hit from Pillar and a run-
scoring double by Reyes.
Game Notes
Tampa Bay starter Matt Andriese lasted just 3 2/3 innings, charged with five
hits and two runs and threw just 39 of his 72 pitches for strikes …
Toronto’s Daniel Norris exited after five frames, having fanned four, walked
three and given up a pair of runs on as many hits … The Rays finished 0-
for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.
