Blue Jays’ woes worsening
Rays hit 3 homers in 8th, rally for win over Toronto
TORONTO (CP) — Logan Morrison hit the third of Tampa Bay’s three home runs in the eighth inning as the Rays rallied for a 7-4 win over the struggling Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
Toronto had taken a 3-1 lead on a Kevin Pillar homer in the seventh inning before the Rays stormed back in the next frame.
Corey Dickerson led off the eighth by tagging Marcus Stroman for a solo shot on the first pitch he saw, pulling Tampa Bay (12-12) within one, and Evan Longoria tied it with a home run off Jason Grilli (1-3) two batters later.
Morrison added to the barrage with a two-run shot off Dominic Leone after Grilli had walked Brad Miller.
Derek Norris had an RBI single in the second, then added a home run off Leone in the ninth that sent many of the 36,256 in attendance to the exits. Reliever Austin Pruitt (3-0) pitched three innings for the win and Chase Whitley earned the save.
Stroman struck out 10 batters and allowed two runs through 7 1/3 in the no-decision. Jose Bautista hit a sacrifice fly for the Blue Jays (6-17) and Darwin Barney drove in a run on a single. Toronto also scored on a double-play groundout.
In better news for the Blue Jays, righthander Aaron Sanchez remains on pace to come off the disabled list and start Sunday’s game. Sanchez landed on the 10-day DL with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand.
He threw 22 pitches during Friday’s side session, deeming it a success. He said removing part of the nail has helped streamline his delivery again.
Sanchez is 0-1 with a 4.38 earned-run average through two starts this season. He led the American League in ERA last year (3.00) and finished with a 15-2 record.
MARINERS 3, INDIANS 1
CLEVELAND — Ariel Miranda allowed two hits and pitched into the sixth inning, Robinson Cano and Ben Gamel homered and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Cleveland Indians 3-1 on Friday night.
Edwin Diaz recorded the final four outs, three on strikeouts, for his fourth save.
Seattle won its third straight despite the absence of Nelson Cruz, who was scratched because of a tight hamstring.