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Saturday, Sep. 23 4:05pm ET
Jays rally from 6 down to drop D-Rays | |||||
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- Darrin Fletcher kept the Blue Jays' slim playoff hopes alive. Fletcher doubled home the winning run in the ninth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays overcame a six-run deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Devils Rays 7-6 Saturday. Toronto, which has eight games remaining, remained 4½ games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees and 3½ games back in the wild-card race. "The bottom line is we needed the win," Fletcher said. "With Oakland continuing to play well, falling 4½ games back at this point would've been devastating. "I don't want to say it but I guess I have to," said Fletcher. "We're going to have to run the table." Fred McGriff became the second player to hit 200 homers in both the American and National leagues, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. The solo shot also boosted McGriff's career total to 414 and moved him into a tie with Darrell Evans for 29th on the career list. "When I first started playing this game my goal was always be consistent and steady," McGriff said. "By hitting a home run (Saturday) it says that I've been pretty consistent. It's more of a personal thing that when I'm out of this game that I've left my mark." After the Devil Rays built a 6-0 lead, Jose Cruz Jr. hit a run-scoring single in the fourth and Craig Grebeck hit an RBI grounder. Doug Creek relieved Bryan Rekar starting the sixth and gave up a single to Fletcher and a double to Cruz, with both scoring on a throwing error by left fielder Randy Winn. Shannon Stewart's homer pulled Toronto to 6-5. Toronto then tied it in the eighth off Esteban Yan on singles by Cruz, pinch-hitter Dave Martinez and Alex Gonzalez. Trevor Enders (0-1) walked Tony Batista with two outs in the ninth and Fletcher hit a ball to short left field. Shortstop Felix Martinez appeared to catch the ball, but it was jarred loose and fell to the turf when he collided with Winn. Martinez and Winn both were shaken up on the play. Billy Koch (9-3) got the win with a hitless inning. Blue Jays starter Roy Halladay was pounded for six runs and six hits in three-plus innings, while Tampa Bay's Brian Rekar allowed two runs and five hits in six innings. "I can't say enough about the job our bullpen did," Blue Jays manager Jim Fregosi said. "Lance pitched great for us and helped give us a chance to win." Blue Jays outfielder Raul Mondesi, out since July 21 following surgery to remove 14 bone chips from his right elbow, returned and went 1-for-5. Mondesi batted third and played right field, and had an infield single in his first at-bat. He had surgery on his right elbow on Aug. 14 and was activated from the 60-day disabled list Wednesday. Fletcher and Cruz had three hits each for the Blue Jays. McGriff had put Tampa Bay ahead with a two-run homer in the first, and Mike Difelice hit into a run-scoring double play that made it 3-0 in the second. Ozzie Timmons hit a three-run homer in the fourth. Game notesAfter the series ends Monday, Toronto closes with three games at Baltimore and three at Cleveland. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Tampa Bay Clubhouse Toronto Clubhouse RECAPS NY Yankees 13 Detroit 8
Toronto 7
San Francisco 9
Milwaukee 5
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