Rays-Jays: Toronto Is Tampa Bay's Slump Buster

The Rays were reeling and they desperately needed some victories. Good thing the Toronto Blue Jays came to town.

Tampa Bay improved to 8-3 against Toronto this season, taking two out of three games to pull closer to the new leader of the American League wild card race, the Texas Rangers.

It wasn't easy, as the Blue Jays came in determined to change their fortunes at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay has been Roy Halladay's kyrptonite, but in game one of this weekend's series, it would be Halladay who would get the last laugh.

Halladay spun a gem, allowing two runs and striking out six in eight innings while his offense gave him just enough support, including homers from Adam Lind and Lyle Overbay in the 5-2 Blue Jays victory.

The bright spot for Tampa Bay was yet again All-Star Left fielder Carl Crawford, who went 4-for-4 with a run scored. Toronto built a 5-0 lead early in the game and it was more than enough for Halladay, who coasted to his 13th win of the season, his first against the Rays in 2009.

Tampa Bay got off the snide in game two of the series, getting a terrific performance from Crawford and Longoria. Crawford scored three times for Tampa Bay and batted in two more runs in the Rays' 8-3 rout of the Blue Jays. Scott Kazmir was solid in six and a third innings, allowing three runs on five hits to even his record at 7-7.

Longoria went 2-for-4 with two rbi and a run scored.

Finally, in the rubber match Tampa Bay's newest acquisition, Greg Zaun, made his presence felt. With the game tied at one in the eighth and the bags loaded, Zaun stepped to the plate and launch a big fly to right field for his fifth career grand slam, giving the Rays the 5-1 lead that would eventually end in a 5-2 win for the good guys.

Crawford again was an impact at the plate, doubling home Jason Bartlett in the third to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead. Vernon Wells answered for the Blue Jays in the fifth off Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza. Wells singled home Aaron Hill to tie the game at one setting the stage for Zaun's pinch hit bomb.

Garza was pedestrian, allowing only the one run but lasting just five innings and scattering eight hits. Dan Wheeler worked the top of the eighth and earned his fourth victory of the season.

With Boston dropping two out of three games to the Texas Rangers, the Rangers are the top dog in the AL wild card chase. The Rays are 3 1/2 games back of Texas and have the Rangers coming in to end this current homestand.

First things first though, the last place Orioles come to town and the Rays certainly hope to fair better against Baltimore than they have earlier this season.