Blue Jays 3 - 4 Rays
Final
  for this game

Jays try to narrow the gap in AL East

Jun 23, 2015 - 11:43 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - R.A. Dickey tries to get the Toronto Blue Jays even closer in the American League East on Tuesday when they continue their three- game series with the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Dickey won for the first time in nearly a month on Thursday, as he beat the New York Mets, limiting his former team to one run and three hits over 7 1/3 innings, but also walked five batters. Still, he picked up his first win since May 21 and improved to 3-6, while lowering his ERA to 4.96.

"Any time you come off and people are glad you pitched, it feels good," said Dickey. "I really appreciated that."

The knuckleballer has faced the Rays 19 times (15 starts) and is 6-7 against them with a 4.49 ERA.

Tampa, meanwhile, will turn to righty Chris Archer, who has won his last five decisions. Archer defeated Washington on Thursday, as he allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings to improve to 8-4 to go along with a 2.18 ERA.

Archer is 4-1 in 11 starts versus Toronto with a 2.67 ERA.

Toronto moved within two games of the Rays on Monday, as Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes and Dioner Navarro hit solo home runs in the Blue Jays' 8-5 win.

"I would say we're used to playing them but I don't know if that's good, because it's tension all the time," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.

Drew Hutchison (7-1) pitched five innings and remained unbeaten in his last four starts despite giving up three runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six.

Roberto Osuna pitched the Blue Jays out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning with consecutive strikeouts and then fanned two more in the ninth to earn his first career save.

The AL East-leading Rays struck out 15 times and stranded 14 runners on base in just their third loss in the last 11 games.

Tampa Bay rookie Matt Andriese (2-2) gave up five hits in his fifth career start, including each of Toronto's three home runs.

"I thought he threw the ball well, he just couldn't avoid those home runs," said Rays manager Kevin Cash.

Despite Monday's loss, Tampa has won six of its eight matchups with the Jays this season.






Related News