Nathan Lukes homered and drove in three runs to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Lukes’s two-run blast in the fifth broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Blue Jays (92-68) their second consecutive win after they had lost six out of seven.
The Blue Jays remained tied for first atop the American League East after the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-4 on Friday. Toronto holds the tiebreaker with New York.
Junior Caminero had two hits, including a homer, and Jonathan Aranda also homered for the Rays (77-83).
Toronto scored against Adrian Houser (8-5) on its first two at-bats, a double to center by George Springer and a single to left by Lukes. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded into a double play to blunt the potential of a bigger rally.
Tampa Bay took the lead in the second against Shane Bieber (4-2) on back-to-back homers, with Caminero leadoff with his 45th and Aranda hitting his 13th.
It was Aranda’s first at-bat since coming off the injured list following a fractured wrist.
Toronto tied the score in the bottom of the second when Daulton Varsho doubled to right-center and Ernie Clement looped a single to right.
Toronto took a 4-2 lead in the fifth. Springer singled to center and Lukes hit a 1-0 changeup out to right-center for his 12th homer of the season.
Bieber allowed two runs, five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Mason Fluharty followed with two perfect innings and four strikeouts.
Houser gave up four runs, seven hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings.
Toronto’s Tommy Nance allowed a two-out single to Caminero in the eighth before Brendon Little replaced him and walked Aranda. Pinch hitter Christopher Morel flied out to right to end the threat.
Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman pitched around two walks and a stolen base in the ninth to earn his 33rd save.
