Blue Jays 3 - 2 Rays
Final
  for this game

Upton, Rays continue series with Bautista-less Jays

May 4, 2011 - 2:44 PM

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(Sports Network) - While his brother provided a go-ahead homer several states over in Arizona, Tampa Bay Rays star B.J. Upton was the hero for his ballclub in last night's opener of a three-game series versus the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tonight the Rays and Jays will resume a three-game set at Tropicana Field.

Justin Upton lifted the Diamondbacks over Colorado with a home run in the eighth inning of Tuesday's win, while B.J. Upton provided the fireworks for Tampa Bay with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 3-2 victory. Ben Zobrist singled to start the inning and Upton followed with a blast off of Toronto relief pitcher Jon Rauch.

"Just [looking to] get a good pitch to hit," Upton said postgame. "The first pitch was a good pitcher's pitch. I definitely didn't want to swing at it in that situation. Then he threw me a fastball, and I got a good piece of the barrel to it."

Kelly Shoppach added a run-scoring single for the Rays, who have won seven of their last nine and welcomed the return of All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria. Longoria hadn't played since April 2 because of a strained oblique and went 1-for-4 at the plate.

Wade Davis started for Tampa and allowed two runs over six innings. Kyle Farnsworth collected the win by getting the final out of the top of the ninth inning.

Jeff Niemann is coming off his first win of the season and will get the nod again tonight. He was 0-3 with a 7.08 earned run average in his first four starts before defeating Minnesota last Thursday with seven innings of one-run ball in a 6-1 triumph. Niemann lowered his ERA to 5.60.

The right-hander and former first-round draft pick is 0-2 in three home starts this season and 3-2 with a 4.99 ERA in eight career starts against the AL East-rival Blue Jays.

Toronto has lost three in a row and four of its last six games, and wasted a solid performance from Jo-Jo Reyes, who delivered six innings of one-run ball in the no-decision. Rauch got the loss for permitting Upton's blast.

"We're all human, we're going to make mistakes," Rauch said. "But I'm better than that, and I let my team down today. We had a chance to win that ballgame, and I screwed it up."

Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion both had two hits and an RBI, while Corey Patterson finished 2-for-4 with a run scored in defeat. Jays slugger and reigning home run king Jose Bautista did not play because of back spasms and his return is uncertain. An MRI revealed no structural damage.

The Jays are 4-4 on a 10-game road trip and hope Brandon Morrow can pitch them to victory Wednesday night. Morrow will make his third start to the season and is 0-1 with a 3.97 earned run average. He lost his 2011 debut on April 23 versus Tampa Bay, as he gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-4 loss.

Morrow, who struck out 10 Rays in the loss, posted a no-decision in last Thursday's 5-2 win at Texas and was reached for just two runs through six innings with six K's.

The right-hander had been on the disabled list due to forearm inflammation and is 2-2 in nine games (5 starts) against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay took two of three contests from Toronto at Rogers Centre from April 22-24 and has won six of the last eight meetings in this series.






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