ST.PETERSBURG, Fl. — Toronto’s Drew Hutchison pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just three hits to Tampa Bay, and Adam Lind gave the Blue Jays all the run support that was needed with a first inning three run homer to beat the Rays 4-2. Sergio Santos finished off a somewhat shaky ninth to earn his first save of the season. The Blue Jays lost the season opener to the Rays 9-2 on Monday.
“I wasn’t sharp early at all, kind of grinded through that one,” Hutchison said. “I think coming out of spring training I was just ready to go, so it was a good start. I’m glad we got the win and I’m ready to get going.”
Rays starter Alex Cobb battled through five innings for work, mostly against his command gave up four runs, five hits and four walks and had three strikeouts.
“His stuff was good, but the command was a little off,” Rays Manager Joe Maddon said.
Lind got the Blue Jays on the board early blasting a 3-1 change-uo over the center field wall to scoring Melky Cabrera who singled to lead off the game and Jose Bautista who walked. Cobb settled in and was able to hold the game at a 3-0 deficit until Jonathan Diaz, filling in for injured shortstop Jose Reyes, made it 4-0 on his first major league hit, an RBI single during the fourth.
Heath Bell, Josh Lueke, Cesar Ramos and Jake McGee were able to hold the Jays in check in relief of Cobb, setting up a comeback opportunity for Tampa Bay. In the eighth Wil Myers got the Rays on the board with a long RBI double that scored Matt Joyce. The Rays added one more run in the ninth when Desmond Jennings doubled home Evan Longoria, and had runners on send and third before Santos closed the door striking out Yunel Escobar to end the game.
The two teams will meet agin tomorrow in game three of their four game series
