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Blue Jays, Rays continue set up north

Sep 13, 2014 - 11:55 AM (Sports Network) - R.A. Dickey goes after his fourth straight winning decision on Saturday when the Toronto Blue Jays continue a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre.

Dickey has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his last six outings, but it might be too little too late for a Jays team that is 11 1/2 games back in the American League East and four behind in the race for the league's second wild card.

He limited the Red Sox to one run over seven-plus innings on Sunday to improve to 12-12 on the year to go along with a 3.84 ERA.

"I've always said that we need to get to 90 wins somehow to have a shot and I know that's a tall order, but it's not impossible," Dickey said after that win. "Keep grinding it out and take advantage of teams that aren't high up in the standings, we have to win those types of games."

Tampa, meanwhile, will give the ball to righty Jeremy Hellickson, who is 1-3 with a 3.71 ERA. Hellickson did not get a decision versus the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday and is winless since beating Oakland back on Aug. 6.

Hellickson, though, is 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in four road starts this season and 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in two starts against Toronto.

Tampa got a big effort from Nate Karns on Friday, as he tossed seven scoreless frames to earn his first major league victory, while Ryan Hanigan produced the lone run of the contest on a homer to help the Rays to a 1-0 win.

In his season and Tampa Bay debut, Karns (1-0) walked two and gave up two hits while striking out eight. Jake McGee and Grant Balfour each tossed a scoreless frame, with the latter claiming his 12th save.

"The nerves in general were a little overwhelming at first, but then they wore off and everything settled in," said Karns. "I'm just happy to get out with a W."

James Loney added a single for the Rays, who had dropped the final two games against the Yankees coming in.

Danny Valencia doubled and Adam Lind singled for the Blue Jays, whose four- game win streak came to an end.

J.A. Happ (9-10) gave up just one other hit and a walk as well as Hanigan's homer, while fanning seven over his superb but fruitless seven- inning outing.

"He's on a nice little roll," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "He was really good tonight too. He just gave up that solo home run to Hanigan and that was the difference in the game. That's how it goes sometimes."