Odorizzi Leads Rays To Even Series With Jays

ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- Jake Odorizzi pitched seven innings of three hit baseball, while Logan Morrison and Colby Rasmus each homered and drove in three to help lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday at Tropicana Field.

Morrison's home run, in the bottom of the third inning, came after Evan Longoria singled with two out against Marco Estrada to extend the inning.  Morrison then blasting the top of the first inning, but ed his sixth homer of the year into the seats in right-center to give the Rays the lead for the first time.

Tampa Bay extended their lead in the sixth against Estrada (1-2) thanks to back-to-back doubles from Longoria and Morrison to make it 3-1, followed by Rasmus' first hit and home run as a member of the Rays, making the score at 5-1.

The middle of the order got one final run across in the bottom of the eighth, as Longoria and Morrison drew walks from Jason Grilli, and following a strikeout by Steven Souza Jr.  Rasmus grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Longoria to set the score at 6-1

Odorizzi (2-1) allowed a solo homer to Ezequiel Carrera in the top of the first inning, but gave up just two other hits while pitching through the seventh inning.

Erasmo Ramirez, back from paternity leave, worked a scoreless eighth, and rookie Jose Alvarado followed suit in the ninth to close out the game.

The win gets the Rays back to .500 on the season at 16-16.

Tampa Bay can close out a series win with a victory in Sunday's finale, as Alex Cobb (2-2, 3.86 ERA) takes on Joe Biagini (0-1, 3.38 ERA).  First pitch is scheduled for 1:10, with coverage on WDAE starting at 11:00 with The Inside Pitch, presented by Sykes Lakeland.  


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content