Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Match Player Stats On May 05, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 5, 2017

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Kendrys Morales hit two home runs to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to an 8-4 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday.

Morales went 3-for-4 with five RBIs as the Blue Jays scored five runs in the eighth inning to rally from a 4-3 deficit.

Aaron Loup pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win for Toronto (10-19).

Tampa Bay (15-16) took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Evan Longoria scored from third on a fielder's choice groundout by Daniel Robertson.

The Blue Jays tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth when Devon Travis scored on Kevin Pillar's double to left field. After Rays reliever Jumbo Diaz walked Russell Martin to put runners at the corners, Morales homered to right field to make the score 7-4.

Toronto tacked on another run in the inning when Justin Smoak hit a home run to right-center off Rays reliever Justin Marks.

Morales' first home run came in the seventh off Rays starter Chris Archer to tie the game 3-3.

Diaz (0-2) gave up three runs in one-third of an inning for the loss. Archer gave up three runs on three hits over six innings. He struck out 11 batters.

Robertson and Derek Norris hit back-to-back home runs off Blue Jays starter Francisco Liriano to give the Rays a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

Liriano's troubles continued in the fourth when he loaded the bases with two outs and walked Steven Souza Jr. on a nine-pitch battle to bring home Tim Beckham and give the Rays a 3-0 lead. That finished Liriano's night.

Liriano went 3 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on five hits. He struck out five but walked five and threw 96 pitches -- 51 for strikes.

Toronto finally got to Archer in the top of the fifth when Morales led off the inning with a double and Smoak followed with an RBI single to make the score 3-1.

GAME NOTES: The Blue Jays designated RHP Mat Latos for assignment and claimed RHP Cesar Valdez from Oakland. Latos was scheduled to pitch Sunday but will be replaced by RHP Joe Biagini. ... Rays OF Kevin Kiermaier was hit on the right hand by a pitch in the fourth inning and removed from the game in the fifth inning. He was schedule to have X-rays on his hand.