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Rays keep rolling after sweep of Blue Jays

Jul 22, 2013 - 1:54 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Chris Archer pitched seven stellar innings to help the surging Tampa Bay Rays complete a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-1 decision in the series finale at Rogers Centre.

Coming off his first career complete-game shutout, Archer (5-3) picked up right where he left off. He surrendered just one run on five hits and four walks for his third straight winning start. The Rays have won his last six outings.

Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney made the ninth inning interesting once again, however. A walk and a single put the first two on and Jose Reyes' two-RBI double made it a one-run game. Reyes later moved to third on a grounder and Adam Lind drew a walk with two out.

Rodney was able to get Melky Cabrera to pop out with the game-winning run on second to secure the victory and earn his 24th save of the year.

Luke Scott had a two-run homer in the victory while Evan Longoria and Kelly Johnson connected on solo shots for the Rays, who have won five straight and 17 of their last 19 contests.

After pitching a two-hit shutout in his last start against the Rays on June 26, R.A. Dickey (8-11) wasn't near as effective this time around. He was tagged for four runs on seven hits while fanning eight over six frames for his third straight loss.

"He pitched a nice ballgame," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Dickey.

After consecutive one-out base hits from Cabrera and Colby Rasmus in the second, a force out put runners on the corners. Josh Thole then delivered an opposite-field ground-rule double to give the Blue Jays an early 1-0 lead.

Longoria crushed an opposite-field home run on the first pitch of the fourth inning to tie the game, however.

Following a James Loney single in the top of the sixth, Scott took a full- count knuckleball from Dickey over the right-field wall to break the tie. On the very next pitch, Johnson crushed a solo homer into the upper deck in right field to make it 4-1 Rays.

Toronto missed out on an opportunity in its half of the sixth after loading the bases with two out on a pair walks and a hit batter, but Brett Lawrie's pop up to second ended the inning.

"With the bases loaded, when (manager Joe Maddon) could have made a pitching move, he left me in. ... That just shows how much confidence he has in me. That's refreshing," Archer said.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, former Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado was inducted as the 10th member into the Blue Jays' Level of Excellence ... Before the game, Toronto activated Cabrera from the 15-day disabled list and optioned pitcher Neil Wagner to Triple-A Buffalo ... Tampa Bay went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while Toronto finished 2-for-14 ... The Rays have won seven straight series and are 20-4 since June 23, the best record in the majors over that span... Scott extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games ... The Blue Jays fell to 18-30 against the AL East.