Upton blasts eighth homer in 14 games; sparks Rays past Jays

Tampa Bay, FL, United States (4E Sports) – The Tampa Bay Rays are still in the hunt for the remaining wild card playoff spot as Jeremy Hellickson threw a five-hitter into the sixth inning and B.J. Upton blasted a homer in the first inning to spark their team to a 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday at Tropicana Field.

The Rays (83-70) moved 5.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles (87-65) and the Oakland Athletics (83-70) and one game behind the Los Angeles Angels in a wild race for the last two playoff spot in the American League.

Upton homered his 8th home run in 14 games to left center in the first inning and Evan Longoria capped it with a two-run double in the eighth-inning.

Hellickson surrendered five hits with six strikeouts while Jake McGee, Kyle Fansworth, J.P Howell, Joel Peralta, Fernando Rodney blanked the Jays in the final three innings.

The Blue Jays remain on the bottom of AL East Standings with 66-85 record.

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