ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Alex Cobb was "happy" with his return after a long absence.
Cobb went five solid innings during his first start in two years, Logan Morrison hit a go-ahead two-run homer, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Friday night.
Cobb, coming back from Tommy John surgery last year, allowed two runs and four hits in his first appearance since Sept 28, 2014, at Cleveland. He struck out seven -- six looking -- walked one and retired his final 10 batters.
"It was almost like debut-feeling again," Cobb said. "Things were speeding up on me. I wouldn't say my stuff is exactly where I want it to be. It's back to the point where I can at least go out there and compete."
Cobb needed 53 pitches to get through the first two innings. He threw just 31 the rest of his outing.
"He might have looked a little rusty early but it's been a while since he's been in the big leagues, and he's always been one of the better competitors in the game," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He knows how to survive."
Cobb made eight minor league rehab starts.
"The performance was outstanding," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Really, really impressed with the way he competed and executed pitches."
Morrison put the Rays up 4-2 in sixth on his 12th homer off Marcus Stroman (9-6).
"My stuff feels as sharp as it's been all year," Stroman said. "It's just frustrating not getting the results I want to get."
Stroman gave up four runs and five hits in six innings.
Luke Maile hit a solo homer and Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI triple off Francisco Liriano before Brad Miller added a two-run shot against Ryan Tepera in a four-run seventh that made it 8-2.
All three batters Liriano faced in his first relief appearances with Toronto after four starts scored.
Danny Farquhar (1-0) worked a scoreless sixth for the win.
Edwin Encarnacion had an RBI double and Russell Martin picked up his 22nd RBI in his last 16 games on an infield single as the Blue Jays went up 2-0 in the first.
Eddie Gamboa, a 31-year old knuckleballer, made his major league debut and loaded the bases on a single and two walks in the eighth before departing with one out. The Blue Jays were able to score just once on Troy Tulowitzki's grounder off Brad Boxberger.
MOVING DAY
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis, optioned to Bluefield on Thursday to make room for the signing of C Josh Thole, was recalled from the Appalachian League club. ... Tepera, RHP Danny Barnes, and OFs Darrell Ceciliani and Dalton Pompey were recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. ... LHP Matt Dermody had his contract purchased from Buffalo and INF Matt Dominguez was designated for assignment. ... OF Quintin Berry signed a minor league contract and might be called up next week.
Rays: Cash said RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) should be recalled next week and used in "more of a scripted relief role where he'll know when he's pitching."
BULLPEN DUTY
Gibbons said "there's a good chance you'll probably see" Liriano start again a couple times this month,
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (8-6) starts Saturday night against Rays rookie LHP Blake Snell (4-7), who left Sunday's game at Houston with a bruised lower left leg.
Toronto Blue Jays
Cobb went five solid innings during his first start in two years, Logan Morrison hit a go-ahead two-run homer, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Friday night.
Cobb, coming back from Tommy John surgery last year, allowed two runs and four hits in his first appearance since Sept 28, 2014, at Cleveland. He struck out seven -- six looking -- walked one and retired his final 10 batters.
"It was almost like debut-feeling again," Cobb said. "Things were speeding up on me. I wouldn't say my stuff is exactly where I want it to be. It's back to the point where I can at least go out there and compete."
Cobb needed 53 pitches to get through the first two innings. He threw just 31 the rest of his outing.
"He might have looked a little rusty early but it's been a while since he's been in the big leagues, and he's always been one of the better competitors in the game," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He knows how to survive."
Cobb made eight minor league rehab starts.
"The performance was outstanding," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Really, really impressed with the way he competed and executed pitches."
Morrison put the Rays up 4-2 in sixth on his 12th homer off Marcus Stroman (9-6).
"My stuff feels as sharp as it's been all year," Stroman said. "It's just frustrating not getting the results I want to get."
Stroman gave up four runs and five hits in six innings.
Luke Maile hit a solo homer and Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI triple off Francisco Liriano before Brad Miller added a two-run shot against Ryan Tepera in a four-run seventh that made it 8-2.
All three batters Liriano faced in his first relief appearances with Toronto after four starts scored.
Danny Farquhar (1-0) worked a scoreless sixth for the win.
Edwin Encarnacion had an RBI double and Russell Martin picked up his 22nd RBI in his last 16 games on an infield single as the Blue Jays went up 2-0 in the first.
Eddie Gamboa, a 31-year old knuckleballer, made his major league debut and loaded the bases on a single and two walks in the eighth before departing with one out. The Blue Jays were able to score just once on Troy Tulowitzki's grounder off Brad Boxberger.
MOVING DAY
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis, optioned to Bluefield on Thursday to make room for the signing of C Josh Thole, was recalled from the Appalachian League club. ... Tepera, RHP Danny Barnes, and OFs Darrell Ceciliani and Dalton Pompey were recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. ... LHP Matt Dermody had his contract purchased from Buffalo and INF Matt Dominguez was designated for assignment. ... OF Quintin Berry signed a minor league contract and might be called up next week.
Rays: Cash said RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) should be recalled next week and used in "more of a scripted relief role where he'll know when he's pitching."
BULLPEN DUTY
Gibbons said "there's a good chance you'll probably see" Liriano start again a couple times this month,
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (8-6) starts Saturday night against Rays rookie LHP Blake Snell (4-7), who left Sunday's game at Houston with a bruised lower left leg.
7:10PM,EDT,September 2,2016
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Toronto - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Bautista struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Donaldson hit a ground rule double to deep center. | 0 | 0 |
| Encarnación doubled to left center, Donaldson scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Saunders grounded out to first, Encarnación to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Martin reached on infield single to second, Encarnación scored. | 2 | 0 |
| Tulowitzki grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Marcus Stroman pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Forsythe singled to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Kiermaier lined out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Longoria grounded out to shortstop, Forsythe to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Miller grounded out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Upton Jr. struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| Pillar singled to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Travis grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Pillar out at second. | 2 | 0 |
| Bautista walked, Travis to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Donaldson popped out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Marcus Stroman pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Duffy struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| Morrison walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Franklin doubled to right, Morrison to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Dickerson grounded out to second, Morrison scored, Franklin to third. | 2 | 1 |
| Maile grounded out to third. | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Encarnación grounded out to third. | 2 | 1 |
| Saunders flied out to center. | 2 | 1 |
| Martin struck out looking. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Marcus Stroman pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Forsythe singled to center. | 2 | 1 |
| Kiermaier safe at first on error by second baseman Travis, Forsythe to second. | 2 | 1 |
| Longoria grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Kiermaier out at second, Forsythe to third. | 2 | 1 |
| Miller grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Forsythe scored, Longoria out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| Duffy grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Tulowitzki struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| Upton Jr. grounded out to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Pillar grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Marcus Stroman pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Morrison grounded out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Franklin struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Dickerson grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Travis struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Bautista struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| Donaldson struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Marcus Stroman pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Maile grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| Forsythe walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Kiermaier popped out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| Longoria grounded into fielder's choice to third, Forsythe out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Danny Farquhar pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Farquhar relieved Cobb. | 2 | 2 |
| Encarnación lined out to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Saunders struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Martin walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Tulowitzki singled to right, Martin to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Upton Jr. grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Marcus Stroman pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Miller struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Duffy doubled to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Morrison homered to right center (452 feet), Duffy scored. | 2 | 4 |
| Franklin grounded out to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Dickerson popped out to third. | 2 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Kevin Jepsen pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Jepsen relieved Farquhar. | 2 | 4 |
| Pillar flied out to right. | 2 | 4 |
| Travis struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Bautista lined out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Francisco Liriano pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Liriano relieved Stroman. | 2 | 4 |
| Maile homered to left (341 feet). | 2 | 5 |
| Forsythe safe at first on error by third baseman Donaldson. | 2 | 5 |
| Kiermaier tripled to deep right, Forsythe scored. | 2 | 6 |
| Tepera relieved Liriano. | 2 | 6 |
| Longoria struck out swinging. | 2 | 6 |
| Miller homered to right (371 feet), Kiermaier scored. | 2 | 8 |
| Duffy flied out to center. | 2 | 8 |
| Morrison hit by pitch. | 2 | 8 |
| Franklin struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| 4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Eddie Gamboa pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Gamboa relieved Jepsen. | 2 | 8 |
| Donaldson singled to right. | 2 | 8 |
| Encarnación walked, Donaldson to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Saunders struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| Martin walked, Donaldson to third, Encarnación to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Boxberger relieved Gamboa. | 2 | 8 |
| Tulowitzki grounded out to third, Donaldson scored, Encarnación to third, Martin to second. | 3 | 8 |
| Upton Jr. struck out swinging. | 3 | 8 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Danny Barnes pitching for Toronto | TOR | TB |
| Barnes relieved Tepera. | 3 | 8 |
| Dickerson struck out swinging. | 3 | 8 |
| Maile struck out swinging. | 3 | 8 |
| Forsythe walked. | 3 | 8 |
| Kiermaier popped out to third. | 3 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Ryan Garton pitching for Tampa Bay | TOR | TB |
| Garton relieved Boxberger. | 3 | 8 |
| Pillar grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 8 |
| Travis grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 8 |
| Bautista struck out swinging. | 3 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Toronto Blue Jays
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bautista DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 30 | .227 | .349 | .454 |
| Donaldson 3B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25 | .297 | .408 | .580 |
| Encarnación 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | .265 | .358 | .545 |
| Saunders RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .267 | .351 | .513 |
| Martin C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | .249 | .344 | .419 |
| Tulowitzki SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .250 | .319 | .454 |
| Upton Jr. LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .206 | .243 | .336 |
| Pillar CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .264 | .294 | .385 |
| Travis 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .289 | .322 | .458 |
| Totals | 33 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 156 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Donaldson (27, Cobb); Encarnación (30, Cobb) RBI: Encarnación (107), Martin (62), Tulowitzki (67) 2-out RBI: Martin Blue Jays RISP: 2-8 (Donaldson 0-1, Martin 1-1, Saunders 0-2, Tulowitzki 0-1, Encarnación 1-1, Upton Jr. 0-2) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Travis (8, ground ball); Donaldson (11, ground ball) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Attendance | 12,602 (40.6% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:52 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - John Tumpane, First Base - Brian O'Nora, Second Base - Pat Hoberg, Third Base - Jeff Kellogg |
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