Homepage / MLB

MLB


Zaun's Slam Leads Jays Past Rays

POSTED: 12:14 am EDT September 7, 2008

(Sports Network) - Gregg Zaun's grand slam in the bottom of the 13th inning capped Toronto's 7-4 gut-wrenching victory over Tampa Bay in the second of three meetings with the Rays.

After the Blue Jays blew a three-run lead in the ninth, the Rays went ahead for the first time in the game in the away 13th on Dioner Navarro's two-out, RBI single.

Toronto showed some moxie in its season-high seventh straight victory, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk in the bottom half off Tampa closer Troy Percival. Zaun stepped in with two outs and smashed the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall for the game-winner.

"It just eked over," said Zaun. "It was perfect placement. If I hit it anywhere else, it's a game-ending fly out, but I got it enough down the line. It was a big moment, a lot of fun."

Brian Tallet (1-1) allowed Shawn Camp's inherited run in the 13th but was credited with the win. Zaun, Joe Inglett and Lyle Overbay each had three hits, with Overbay adding two solo homers.

Percival (2-1) blew his fourth save of the season for the struggling Rays, who have dropped four of five. Tampa still remains 2 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox in the AL East after Boston fell to Texas on Saturday.

"I was trying to go with a fastball away right there, and I pulled it across the plate," said Percival. "I knew he was going to try an ambush. I was hoping for that, and get a pop fly out there. Nice location, bad pitch."

Rocco Baldelli had two hits, including a pinch-hit, two-run blast in the ninth, while Akinori Iwamura reached base five times with three singles and a pair of walks.

Toronto starter Shaun Marcum took the unfortunate no decision, allowing four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. His counterpart, James Shields, served up three runs on six hits and two walks in eight innings for Tampa Bay.

Alex Rios, who homered twice in Toronto's 6-4 win over the Rays on Friday, got the Blue Jays started with an RBI double in the first. Overbay then launched a line-drive homer deep into the stands in center to lead off the second, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead.

Overbay took Shields deep to the opposite field in the fourth, a high fly ball that cleared the fence down the line in left, and his 14th homer of the season gave the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead, which held up until the ninth.

There, the Rays came back to tie the game off of Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan. Ryan started the ninth by beaning Carlos Pena, and then Baldelli came through with a pinch-hit blast into the stands in left. The homer, Baldelli's third since returning to the Rays, cut the Blue Jays lead to one run.

Willy Aybar then worked a walk, and pinch-runner Fernando Perez stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. Justin Ruggiano then fanned for the first out, but Navarro sent a hard grounder up the middle that went through the legs of Inglett and into center.

The error allowed Perez to score the tying run, but Navarro was thrown out at second as he tried to move up on the throw to the plate. Ryan struck out Jason Bartlett to end the frame.

Game Notes

The Jays sent nine pitchers to the mound, while Tampa used six hurlers... Before the game, the Rays activated third baseman Evan Longoria from the 15- day disabled list. Longoria, battling a wrist injury, did not play Saturday and will see limited action as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement for the time being...Tampa was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 total. Toronto left eight runners on base...It was Zaun's fourth career grand slam.


Sports E-News

Sign up to receive daily sports headlines.
 


Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Restless Leg Syndrome can be calmed. Learn symptoms, treatments and management for RLS here. More

Think you can’t own a little slice of personal heaven for less than $100,000? Think again. Check out these less well known spots where you can relax and get away from it all without breaking the bank. More

Are your aging parents becoming a threat to themselves and others on the road? Find out if it's time to take away the keys. More

House, home, garage
Been reading stories about the increase in home foreclosures? In the market to invest? Search a national database of homes on the block. More


Don’t be left out. Make the switch to Digital TV.

Sponsored Links


Wheelchair Vans