Final
  for this game

Longoria, Johnson power Rays over Jays

May 9, 2013 - 7:36 AM St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Evan Longoria homered and drove in three runs during a three-hit night, and Kelly Johnson went 3-for-4 with a two-run blast to power the Tampa Bay Rays over the Toronto Blue Jays, 10-4, in the third installment of a four-game series at Tropicana Field.

Matt Moore (6-0) didn't have his best stuff, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks over five innings, but it was enough to stay undefeated as the Rays backed him with 13 hits.

Luke Scott and James Loney each added a pair of RBI, while Ben Zobrist reached base four times, scored three runs and knocked in another for the victors.

"It's been kind of difficult lately," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "The two losses in Kansas City were not fun, even the loss in Denver was not fun, and the two losses here. None of them have been fun. I believe we came to play every day after those tough losses. I don't think we mailed anything in after those tough losses, and that's what I really appreciate about this group."

Toronto had its three-game win streak snapped, but the club received good news earlier Wednesday when it was announced J.A. Happ was "doing well" after being released from the hospital. Happ was carried off the field on a stretcher Tuesday when he was struck by a line drive and sustained a head contusion.

The Blue Jays actually jumped out to an early lead on Edwin Encarnacion's two- run homer to straightaway center in the first, but the embattled Ricky Romero (0-2) recorded just one out in the bottom half before getting the quick hook.

Romero, an All-Star in 2011, started the year in the minor leagues following a disappointing campaign last season, and in his second start the left-hander continued his downward spiral. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, and Longoria, Loney and Scott all plated runs with base hits.

"I'm a competitor, I work hard and I put so much effort, so much work into everything that I've done and I don't see it as a step back, but obviously the statistics don't show that. But you hold your head high and continue to work," Romero said.

Edgar Gonzalez relieved Romero after Scott's single and retired the next two hitters to keep it a 3-2 game, but Johnson doubled off the middle reliever in the second and scored on Zobrist's single for a two-run lead.

Coming in, the Rays had lost 13 games in which they held a lead, including the first two of the series, but they tacked on enough runs in this one to win going away.

Gonzalez, recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Happ's place on the roster, was still in the game when Longoria took him deep down the left-field line in the fourth for a two-run homer and a 6-2 cushion.

After Moore struck out Mark DeRosa to leave the bases loaded in the fifth, Johnson ended Gonzalez's extended relief stint with a two-run moonshot into the right-field seats in the sixth. The Rays pushed two more across in the frame via Loney's run-scoring double and Scott's sacrifice fly.

Encarnacion's sac fly and DeRosa's RBI single in the seventh accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

Maddon, who picked up win No. 600 as Tampa Bay's manager, was ejected in the sixth inning by home plate umpire Scott Barry for arguing a foul ball call ... Romero has lost 15 of his last 16 decisions ... Gonzalez lasted 4 2/3 innings and was charged with five runs on six hits ... Toronto went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position ... The Jays can still win their first road series against Tampa Bay since April 2007 when R.A. Dickey faces David Price in Thursday's finale.








  • TORONTO: 4
    TAMPA BAY: 10
    Final

    May 8 10:33 PM


  • Mark DeRosa single to center scored J.P. Arencibia with two outs. On the play, Rajai Davis advances to third. Runners on first and third and Maicer Izturis due up.

    Blue Jays 4, Rays 10  Top 7, 2 OutsMay 8 9:54 PM
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    Blue Jays 4, Rays 10  Top 7, 2 OutsMay 8 9:54 PM


  • Edwin Encarnacion sacrifice fly to left scored Melky Cabrera with one out. Runner on second and J.P. Arencibia due up.

    Blue Jays 3, Rays 10  Top 7, 1 OutMay 8 9:51 PM


  • Luke Scott sacrifice fly to center scored James Loney with two outs. Runner on first and Jose Lobaton due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 10  Bot 6, 2 OutsMay 8 9:40 PM
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    Blue Jays 2, Rays 10  Bot 6, 2 OutsMay 8 9:40 PM


  • James Loney doubled to center scored Ben Zobrist. Runner on second with one out and Yunel Escobar due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 9  Bot 6, 1 OutMay 8 9:35 PM


  • Kelly Johnson none-out, two-run Home Run (5) to right scored Desmond Jennings. Ben Zobrist due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 8  Bot 6, 0 OutsMay 8 9:27 PM
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    Blue Jays 2, Rays 8  Bot 6, 0 OutsMay 8 9:27 PM
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    Blue Jays 2, Rays 6  Mid 5May 8 9:02 PM
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    Blue Jays 2, Rays 6  Top 5, 2 OutsMay 8 8:59 PM


  • Evan Longoria two-out, two-run Home Run (8) to left scored Ben Zobrist. James Loney due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 6  Bot 4, 2 OutsMay 8 8:40 PM
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    Blue Jays 2, Rays 4  Top 3, 1 OutMay 8 8:12 PM


  • Ben Zobrist single to left scored Kelly Johnson with one out. Runner on first and Evan Longoria due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 4  Bot 2, 1 OutMay 8 7:59 PM


  • Luke Scott single to right scored Ben Zobrist with one out. On the play, James Loney advances to second and Evan Longoria advances to third. Bases loaded and Jose Lobaton due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 3  Bot 1, 1 OutMay 8 7:38 PM
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    Blue Jays 2, Rays 3  Bot 1, 1 OutMay 8 7:38 PM


  • James Loney single to right scored Kelly Johnson with none out. On the play, Evan Longoria advances to second and Ben Zobrist advances to third. Bases loaded and Yunel Escobar due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 2  Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 8 7:34 PM


  • Evan Longoria single to left scored Desmond Jennings with none out. On the play, Ben Zobrist advances to second and Kelly Johnson advances to third. Bases loaded and James Loney due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 1  Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 8 7:31 PM


  • Edwin Encarnacion two-out, two-run Home Run (10) to center scored Melky Cabrera. J.P. Arencibia due up.

    Blue Jays 2, Rays 0  Top 1, 2 OutsMay 8 7:17 PM


  • TORONTO: 0
    TAMPA BAY: 0
    Top 1, 0 Outs

    May 8 7:10 PM
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    Blue Jays vs. RaysJan 10 8:15 AM