Best of MLB: Rays Crush Blue Jays to Hand J.A. Happ 1st Loss

TORONTO -- Curt Casali hit a three-run homer, Tim Beckham and Steve Pearce each hit two-run blasts and the Tampa Bay Rays had four homers while beating the Toronto Blue Jays 13-2 on Monday night.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was ejected by home plate umpire Mike Winters for arguing a called third strike in the fourth. It was the third ejection of the season for Gibbons and his second in two games -- his was one of eight tossed in a game Sunday against Texas that included Rougned Odor's punch to the jaw of Jose Bautista. Toronto has lost three straight.

Desmond Jennings also homered, and the Rays set season highs in runs and hits (17).

Jennings and Steven Souza each had three hits in the opener of an eight-game, three-city trip.

Drew Smyly (2-4) allowed one run and four hits in five innings to win for the first time in four starts.

The Rays roughed up Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ (5-1) (see full recap).

Joyce, Polanco lead Pirates past Braves
PITTSBURGH -- Matt Joyce homered among his three hits and drove in three runs, Gregory Polanco had three hits and three runs scored, and Jon Niese pitched six effective innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.

Philadelphia Phillies

Complete coverage of the Fightin' Phils and their MLB rivals from NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Phillies release Opening Day roster, place 5 players on IL

Phillies 2024 Opening Day postponed to Friday

Joyce connected for his fifth home run, a two-run shot deep into the left-field bleachers, off Alexi Ogando in the seventh.

Niese (4-2) allowed two runs and five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 12th save in 13 opportunities.

The Braves lost for the ninth time in 11 games in falling to a major league-worst 9-28.

Jeff Francouer had a two-run homer and Kelly Johnson added a three-run shot for Atlanta's runs -- the first time since opening day the Braves homered twice.

Williams Perez (1-1) gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings (see full recap).

Indians rally to thump Reds
CLEVELAND -- Yan Gomes hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had four RBIs, and the Cleveland Indians rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat the Cincinnati Reds 15-6 on Monday night.

Marlon Byrd hit a two-run homer in a five-run sixth and the Indians erased a 4-0 deficit while recording season highs in runs and hits.

Cincinnati scored four times in the first three innings, but Cleveland tied it with a four-run third and added three in the fourth.

Francisco Lindor, who was 3 for 5, Jason Kipnis and Mike Napoli all had two RBIs for the Indians, who had 19 hits.

Kipnis' two-run single broke a 4-all tie and helped the Indians take a three-run lead in the fourth. The Reds cut the lead to one in the fifth, but Gomes, homering for the third straight game, and Byrd, who had three hits, unloaded off Layne Somsen (see full recap).

Copyright CSNPhily
Contact Us