Rays Five-Run Rally Caps Wild Ninth In 7-6 Victory Over Blue Jays

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Sean Rodriguez hit a three-run double in the top of the ninth, as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-6, in the middle installment of a three- game series from Rogers Centre.

Carl Crawford scored twice and drove in a run for the Rays, who lost 3-2 in the series opener on Monday. Reid Brignac and Ben Zobrist each knocked in a run and scored once for the victors.

Grant Balfour (1-1) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the victory. Rafael Soriano recorded his 15th save of the season despite giving up a run in the ninth.

John Buck and Fred Lewis each homered for the Blue Jays, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Lewis went 3-for-5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Adam Lind knocked in two runs in defeat.

Kevin Gregg (0-2) allowed four runs on one hit while recording just two outs in the ninth. He suffered his third blown save of the season.

Trailing 5-0, Tampa Bay put a three-spot on the board in the seventh. Casey Janssen, who recorded the final out in the sixth, stayed on to start the seventh. Dioner Navarro led off with a single and crossed the plate on Brignac's double to right-center field. Jason Frasor was then called in from the bullpen. After fanning B.J. Upton, Frasor gave up an RBI single to Crawford. The left fielder advanced to second on a passed ball and came around to score on Carlos Pena's infield single, which deflected off Frasor.

Shawn Camp relived Frasor after Willy Aybar singled to put men on the corners. Zobrist flied out to end the inning, but not before the Rays cut the gap to 5-3.

The Rays completed the comeback with a four-run ninth. Gregg ran into trouble fast after striking out the first batter of the frame. Crawford walked, stole second, and moved to third on Gregg's throwing error. Evan Longoria then walked to put men on the corners. Pena called for time with a 2-2 count on him, but he was not granted time. Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez called a third strike on Pena, which led to Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon being ejected.

Pinch-hitter John Jaso walked to load the bases for Zobrist, who also walked to force in a run. Rodriguez came up big with a three-run double to center, giving the Rays a 7-5 lead. Rommie Lewis was called upon to record the final out of the inning.

Soriano had a little trouble in the home half of the ninth. Lewis reached base on Brignac's throwing error and crossed the plate on Vernon Wells' two-out double to left. Jose Bautista, though, flied out to end the game.

Fred Lewis' solo homer to right got the Blue Jays on the board in the first inning.

Toronto scored three times in the fifth to build a 4-0 lead. With one down, Buck smacked the ball over the wall in left-center field. Lewis and Aaron Hill then hit consecutive two-out singles. Lind followed with a two-run triple to right-center field.

The Blue Jays tacked on another run in the sixth. With one out, Alex Gonzalez singled and Lyle Overbay doubled off the wall in center. Buck's sacrifice fly to left made it 5-0.

Tampa Bay took two of three meetings with Toronto from April 23-25 this season and has won 17 of the previous 23 contests in this series...Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett (hamstring) missed the game...After being relieved in the ninth by Rommie Lewis, Gregg was ejected for not immediately going to the dugout...Toronto starter Brian Tallet gave up four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He made his first start since April 17 after being on the DL. To make room for Tallet, Toronto optioned pitcher Josh Roenicke to Triple-A Las Vegas...The Pirates acquired pitcher Dana Eveland from the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitcher Ronald Uviedo...Toronto has hit a league- best 91 home runs this year...The Rays improved to 20-6 on the road this year...Tampa Bay is 25-2 this season when they score five or more runs...Rays starter Jeff Niemann allowed five runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 frames.