Game 152: Bullpen, Offensive Explosion Carry Rays Past Blue Jays

In what was essentially a must-win game, Joe Maddon used six different pitchers while four different players homered as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Toronto Blue Jays 11-5.

Evan Longoria gave the Rays the lead in the bottom of the second, drilling a home run off a light in deep left to give the Rays a 4-2 advantage. Desmond Jennings homered to give the Rays a 5-2 lead, before the Blue Jays trimmed the advantage to 5-4 in the top of the fifth as Adam Lind drilled a two run triple.

The offense exploded for the Rays in the bottom of the frame. Jose Molina and B.J. Upton each had two run home runs as Tampa scored six runs, jumping all over reliever Brad Lincoln. Lincoln gave up six runs on six hits and a walk over his .2 innings of work, with five of the runs coming with two outs in the inning. The Blue Jays tacked on another run in the eighth; however, the Rays were able to close out the game with an 11-5 victory.

Burke Badenhop picked up the win in relief, retiring all four batters he faced. Starter Matt Moore lasted 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks (one intentional), while striking out two batters. The intentional walk came after a stolen base, with a 2-2 count to Edwin Encarnacion. Brandon Morrow took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits and four walks in four innings.

Jennings, Molina, and Jeff Keppinger had three hits each in the victory, as every Rays starter aside from Matt Joyce had a hit in the contest.