Rays rookie Wil Myers leads the way as Tampa Bay downs Toronto 4-3

TORONTO – Rookie right-fielder Wil Myers drove in two runs and right-hander Jeremy Hellickson won his fifth consecutive decision Saturday as the Tampa Bay Rays held on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3.

The Rays (57-41) have won the first two of the three-game series with the Blue Jays (45-51) and have taken 12 of their past 13, and 16 of their last 18.

Hellickson (9-3) allowed five hits, including a home run by Jose Bautista, three walks and two runs in five innings for the Rays before left-hander Alex Torres took over in the sixth.

Hellickson had a no decision in his previous start on July 10 but is 7-1 over his past nine outings.

Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 23rd save of the season despite allowing a run. Rodney walked Brett Lawrie with one out and allowed a single to Bautista with two out that put runners at the corners. Rodney’s error on Edwin Encarnacion’s grounder allowed a run to score. Bautista then stole third. On the next pitch Encarnacion stole second but Adam Lind ended the game with a fly out to centre.

Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle (5-7) allowed 10 hits and four runs (three earned) in seven innings to take his second consecutive loss.

The Rays opened the scoring in the first when Desmond Jennings led off with a walk. Ben Zobrist then bunted for a single, Jennings took third on a fly out and scored on Myers’ sacrifice fly.

Tampa Bay added three runs in the third to take a 4-0 lead. Sam Fuld led off with a single, Jennings bunted for a single and Zobrist walked to load the bases. Evan Longoria forced Zobrist at second to score one run before Myers singled in another to make it 3-0.

Longoria stretched the lead to four when Ryan Roberts forced Longoria at second and reached first base on a throwing error at second by Lawrie.

Bautista’s 22nd homer of the season with two out in the bottom of the third cut the lead to 4-1.

The Blue Jays scored in the fifth on a groundout by Encarnacion that scored Jose Reyes from third.

Toronto had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the eighth but couldn’t capitalize with the bases loaded and none out.

Torres walked Bautista and Encarnacion to open the inning before being replaced by right-hander Joel Peralta, who walked Lind to load the bases.

But as has been the case so many times this season, Toronto couldn’t come up with a key hit. Colby Rasmus fouled out, Maicer Izturis was called out on strikes and J.P. Arencibia struck out swinging on a 3-2 pitch to end the threat.

Notes: Attendance at Rogers Centre was 42,639. … Former Blue Jays first baseman Carlos Delgado will be added to the club’s Level of Excellence in a ceremony before Sunday’s game. … Both teams were two games above .500 on June 23. Toronto was 38-36, while Tampa Bay stood at 39-37. .. The Rays ended the Blue Jays 11-game winning streak on June 24. … Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar (strained hamstring) missed his second consecutive game. …Rays designated hitter Luke Scott singled in the eighth for a career-best 12-game hitting streak. … RHP R.A. Dickey (8-10, 4.69 earned-run average) will start Sunday’s series finale for Toronto against RHP Chris Archer (4-3, 2.96 ERA). … The Blue Jays open an interleague series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.