ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — All Willy Adames had to do in the 11th inning was hit the ball through or over five infielders for Tampa Bay to beat Toronto.
Adames delivered a long single, driving in the winning run as the Rays beat the Blue Jays 4-3 Wednesday night.
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“I really wanted that at-bat and they gave it to me,” said Adames, who blamed himself for not making a play that had led to a Toronto run five innings earlier. “I was trying to hit it deep, get it up in the air and make sure that (pinch-runner Andrew Velazquez) was able to score.”
Adames’ hit came off Justin Shafer (0-1), who walked two and allowed a single by Avisail Garcia. After an intentional walk of Kevin Kiermaier with one out and the infield jammed with fielders, Adames drove a ball to deep center field.
Diego Castillo (1-3) got the win after pitching the 11th for the Rays, who have won five straight.
It was the eighth straight game in which the Rays have given up three runs or less, and much of the credit this time went to Hunter Wood, who pitched three shutout innings after coming in with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth.
“Woody’s performance was probably good for the MVP of the night,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Tampa Bay banged out 14 hits; Garcia and Tommy Pham each had three.
The Blue Jays have lost seven of eight. Toronto had 12 hits, but went 2 for 16 with men in scoring position.
“We had our chances, but we didn’t do it. The pitching gave us a chance,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “We were in the game. We came back. We had chances and when you play good teams, sooner or later they’re going to get you.”
The Rays took a 3-2 into the eighth before Justin Smoak tied it with an RBI single off Jose Alvarado, who gave up two hits and two walks to the four batters he faced. The Blue Jays had the bases loaded with no outs after tying it, but Wood got Freddie Galvis to bounce into a double play and Brandon Drury to line out to center.
“I’m a pretty bland guy,” Wood said, “but I was definitely pumped up to get out of that inning and keep the (game) tied up and give the team a chance to win.”
The Blue Jays had four hits off Blake Snell’s first 10 pitches of the game.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove Snell’s third pitch for a two-run homer, his fourth of the season. Smoak and Rowdy Tellez followed with singles. Snell got out of the inning with a strikeout and a double play and then scattered two hits and two walks over the next five innings.
Snell, the 2018 Cy Young Award winner, gave up two runs while striking out five in six innings.
Garcia drove in Tampa Bay’s first run with a single in the third, and Brandon Lowe’s two-run double lifted the Rays to a 3-2 lead in the fourth against Toronto starter Trent Thornton, who gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings.
Gurriel has an extra-base hit in all six of his games since being recalled from Buffalo on Friday.
The game drew a crowd of 6,166, 380 more than Tuesday night’s crowd of 5,786, the smallest in franchise history.
ALL-OUT EFFORT BY DAVIS
A fully-extended diving catch by center fielder Jonathan Davis saved the Blue Jays at least two runs in the first inning. “To see him just flying through center field, dive like Superman to catch that ball, that was the most spectacular play I’ve ever seen, especially when I’ve been pitching,” Thornton said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: RHP Ryan Tepera (elbow impingement) had surgery to shave down a bone spur and remove a loose body on the back of his elbow. He will start throwing in six weeks. ... RHP Jacob Waguespack (right shoulder strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list and RHP Elvis Luciano was reinstated from the bereavement list. ... RHP Aaron Sanchez, who left Monday night’s game due to a finger problem, is listed as Sunday’s starter at Colorado.
Rays: C Mike Zunino (strained left quadriceps) was “definitely reassured” after playing seven innings Tuesday night in his first rehab game with Class A Charlotte. His status will be evaluated after another game Thursday. ... INF Joey Wendle (fractured right wrist) is hitting soft toss in a batting cage and expects to be back next month.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: After an off day, RHP Ed Jackson (2-0, 9.00) will pitch Friday night’s opener of a three-game series at Colorado.
Rays: RHP Charlie Morton (5-0, 2.54) will pitch Thursday night’s opener of a four-game series against Minnesota.
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