Saunders homers twice in Blue Jays’ 6-1 win over Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Michael Saunders hit two home runs and Aaron Sanchez pitched seven shutout innings for the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Saunders homered off Rays starter Drew Smyly (1-3) in the third inning and added his fourth home run of the season off Dana Eveland in the eighth. The left fielder is hitting .368 (14 for 38) in nine games since moving into the leadoff spot in the Toronto batting order.

Sanchez (2-1) gave up six hits and two walks while striking out six to help the Blue Jays break a three-game losing streak.

Josh Donaldson hit his eighth homer off the c-ring catwalk at Tropicana Field in the sixth, giving the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Goins drove in the final run with his first homer in the ninth off Jhan Marinez, who was making his major league debut.

The first two home runs were the only hits given up by Smyly, who struck out eight in six innings.

Rays manager Kevin Cash was ejected by home plate umpire Mark Ripperger in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes. It was the first ejection of the year for Cash and the fourth of his career.

FAN FRIENDLY

The Blue Jays were striking out 9.4 times per game going into the weekend, enough for Donaldson to declare in a television interview that “some people need to evaluate their approach” to hitting. “There’s no doubt we’re striking out way too much,” said manager John Gibbons.

BAD NUMBERS

The Blue Jays struck out eight times Friday night, bringing their season total to 225 in 24 games. … Troy Tulowitzki is hitless in his last 18 at-bats against left-handers. … Logan Morrison went 0 for 4 for the Rays, dropping his batting average to .100 (6 for 60). … The Rays are 1 for 26 on their current homestead with runners in scoring position.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: C Russell Martin got a sore neck in the cold weather up north. “Doesn’t feel great, but it’s playable,” Gibbons said … RHP Bo Schultz (off-season hip surgery) threw a shutout inning in his first rehab start for Class A Dunedin.

UP NEXT

LHP J.A. Happ (3-0) will oppose Rays RHP Chris Archer (1-4), who lost to the Blue Jays on opening day despite striking out 12. It will be Archer’s 17th start against Toronto. “The common denominator in every start is if I fill up the strike zone, I’m pretty successful,” he said.