Jays hit 4 HRs to back Sanchez in win over Rays

ST. PETERSBURG — The Blue Jays used four solo home runs Friday night en route to a 6-1 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Michael Saunders homered to center field off Drew Smyly with two outs in the third to put the Blue Jays up 1-0. Josh Donaldson added a solo home run off the C-Ring catwalk with two outs in the sixth to push the lead to 2-0. That was all the damage the Blue Jays could inflict against Smyly, but it was enough as he took his third loss of the season.

Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez scattered six hits to hold the Rays scoreless over seven innings and earn his second win of the season.

The Blue Jays tacked on some insurance runs in the eighth when Saunders hit his second long ball of the game and Justin Smoak added a two-run single. Brad Miller homered in the eighth off Blue Jays reliever Drew Storen to account for the Rays’ only run. Ryan Goins hit the Blue Jays’ fourth home run in the ninth when he connected against Jhan Marinez.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Saunders starts early: Saunders gave the Blue Jays an early lift with a solo shot in the third inning, but he wasn’t done there. The veteran outfielder went deep again in the eighth for the sixth multi-homer game of his career. According to Statcast™, the first home run was projected to travel 415 feet from home plate, while the second one was projected at 388 feet.

Smyly ties K mark: Smyly struck out …

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