Aledmys Diaz hit a three-run homer in a seven-run first inning, Aaron Sanchez won for the first time in three months and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-3 on Wednesday night to prevent a three-game sweep.
Billy McKinney added a solo homer as Toronto had 16 hits and improved to 3-9 against the Rays this season. Tampa Bay's four-game winning streak was snapped.
Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier hit two solo home runs for his third career multihomer game. He also did it against the Blue Jays on Aug. 23, 2017.
Toronto had managed five hits or fewer in the previous seven meetings with Tampa Bay, matching the longest such streak in the majors since 1920. The Baltimore Orioles did it to the Washington Senators between Sept. 11, 1968 and April 18, 1969, according to STATS.
The Blue Jays avoided taking sole possession of a dubious place in the record book with a six-hit first, sending 12 batters to the plate. Devon Travis had two hits in the inning, one fewer than Toronto produced over nine innings in Tuesday's 4-0 defeat.
Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-5) faced 10 batters and got two outs, allowing seven runs and five hits.
Sanchez (4-5) permitted three runs and six hits over six innings, including both of Kiermaier's homers, to win for the first time since June 3 at Detroit. He matched a season high with eight strikeouts.
Sanchez was fortunate to escape potential injury in the second, managing to get his glove up in front of his face to deflect a liner off the bat of Rays catcher Nick Ciuffo. The ball rolled into foul territory, giving Ciuffo his first career hit.
Kiermaier's home runs were his fifth and sixth of the season. A fan made a barehand catch on Kiermaier's second drive.
Blue Jays right fielder Randal Grichuk made a sensational leaping catch on Kiermaier's liner to the wall in right to end the third. Kiermaier, a two-time Gold Glove winner, stopped on the basepaths to applaud Grichuk's play, waiting to give the Blue Jays outfielder a playful shove as Grichuk jogged back to his dugout.
Grichuk was on the other end when Mallex Smith caught Grichuk's drive to wall in right for the final out of the sixth, stranding a runner at third.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: Manager John Gibbons said RHP Marcus Stroman (blister) will miss his next scheduled start, Sunday against Cleveland. LHP Thomas Pannone will face the Indians instead. Stroman is reluctant to shut down his season despite persistent blister issues. ... RHP David Paulino (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list. Paulino was acquired from Houston in the July 30 trade that sent closer Roberto Osuna to the Astros.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Sam Gaviglio (3-7, 5.02 ERA) pitches Thursday in the opener of a four-game series against Cleveland. Gaviglio went 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA in five August starts. RHP Shane Bieber (8-3, 4.66) goes for the Indians.
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AP-WF-09-06-18 0211GMT