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Blue Jays go for sweep of struggling Rays

Sep 7, 2008 - 12:47 PM Tampa Bay (85-55) at Toronto (75-66) 1:07 p.m. EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Out of contention, the Toronto Blue Jays are playing the role of spoiler to perfection.

Winners of a season-high seven in a row, Toronto will be looking for a sweep of the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

Toronto, who took two-of-three from the New York Yankees before a series sweep of the Minnesota Twins, captured the middle game from the Rays on Saturday thanks to some late-inning dramatics.

After Tampa Bay tied the game at 3-3 with three runs in the ninth off closer B.J. Ryan, Greg Zaun hit a grand slam with Toronto trailing 4-3, giving the Blue Jays the win.

With their grip on the American League East slipping, the Rays send Matt Garza (11-8, 3.64) to the mound as they look to avoid being swept for the first time since they dropped four straight at Cleveland July 10-13.

The righthander was roughed up last out, a 7-2 loss at the hands of the New York Yankees, allowing six runs - four earned - and five hits over five innings of work on September 2.

Tampa Bay, which has lost four of five, holds a 2 1/2-game lead over the Boston Red Sox (83-58).

David Purcey (2-5, 6.15) gets the start for the Blue Jays. The rookie lefthander has struggled in his last three home starts, posting an 0-2 record with a 9.00 ERA.