Scuffling Blue Jays lose 7-2 to Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Steven Souza Jr. hit a three-run homer and was involved in a scrum after a slide during the Tampa Bay Rays’ 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Corey Dickerson and Jesus Sucre also homered, and Jake Odorizzi (1-1) went six effective innings for the Rays, who took three of four from Toronto at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay has won 23 of its last 30 home series against the Blue Jays, going 61-33 during that stretch.

Toronto got a home run from Josh Donaldson, who left after grounding out in the sixth with right calf tightness, but dropped to 1-5.

Both benches briefly emptied in the second when Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki took issue with Souza’s slide into second base on Logan Morrison’s doubleplay grounder. No punches were thrown.

Souza completed a four-run third with a three-run drive off Marco Estrada (0-1) that put Tampa Bay up 4-2. Estrada, who was 0-3 with a 6.46 ERA in three starts last season against Tampa Bay, gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings.

Odorizzi, hit in the leg by Jose Bautista’s inning-ending grounder in the third, allowed two runs and two hits. He retired 16 of his last 17 batters.

Jumbo Diaz and Tommy Hunter completed the three-hitter. Bautista’s two-out double in the ninth off Hunter was Toronto’s first hit since Kendrys Morales’ one-out double in the first.

Sucre added a two-run single in the eighth.

Donaldson hit a solo homer during a two-run first for the Blue Jays. The slugger has gone deep four times in 20 at-bats against Odorizzi.

Rays centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier was ejected by plate umpire Mike Muchlinski in the seventh for arguing a called third strike.

The Blue Jays won the series opener Thursday, and had a lead in all three of their losses. At 1-5, Toronto matched its worst start, which came in 2014.

Tampa Bay completed its seasonopening homestand at 5-2. It’s the first time the Rays have started a year by winning five of seven.

Trainer’s room

The Blue Jays put left-hand reliever J.P. Howell on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder discomfort. Right-handed pitcher Dominic Leone was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Howell’s spot.

Up next

J.A. Happ (0-1) will start for the Blue Jays as they face Milwaukee started Wily Peralta (1-0) in Toronto’s home opener Tuesday night. Toronto had a home attendance of 3,392,099 last season, its most since 1993 (4,057,947).