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 The Toronto Blue Jays left fielder was batting .143 (3-for-21) in
his career against left-hander Erik Bedard, who started for the
Tampa Bay Rays.
Cabrera played after all, and he collected three hits against Bedard
as the Blue Jays defeated the Rays 10-5 to extend their season-best
winning streak to seven games.
Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion also had three hits,
including his 15th homer of the season. Catcher Dioner Navarro and
second baseman Steve Tolleson homered for the Blue Jays against
Bedard, who allowed 13 hits and eight runs.
Encarnacion's homer against right-handed reliever Alex Colome in the
sixth was his 13th of the month, a club record for May.
"I was thinking of maybe giving Cabrera a night off because he
hasn't done well against Bedard in his career, and then he turns
around and has a big night," Gibbons said.
Cabrera also hit a sacrifice fly in a four-run fifth inning against
to finish the game 3-for-3 with a team-leading three RBIs.
"When things are going good, they're going good," Gibbons said. "We
had a couple of those dunk-shot hits that we dropped drop in there,
too, and that's when you know things are going good."
Bedard said, "You're facing a hot team. They're hitting every hole.
Everything was going their way. They hit good pitches and
everything. When you're hot, everything falls, and everything was
going their way."
Center fielder Desmond Jennings, first baseman James Loney and
designated hitter David DeJesus homered against right-hander Drew
Hutchison for the Rays, who had their four-game winning streak
snapped.
"That was one of our better offensive nights, too," Tampa Bay
manager Joe Maddon said. "They just put the heavy gloves on and beat
us up tonight. They outpunched us. They got us in the corners, got
us on the ropes and didn't let us up. It was just not enough. They
kept adding on.
"They have such a good lineup, and when the bottom contributes like
they did today, it makes it even more difficult."
Hutchison (4-3) allowed seven hits, four walks (one intentional) and
five runs in five innings for his third successive win.
"I thought Hutch labored a little bit tonight," Gibbons said. "There
wasn't whole lot of pop. It wasn't coming out real well. They were
swinging, too."
Hutchison added, "It was just one of those nights, it was a grind.
To be honest, that's really all there is to say about it. Nothing
was good, nothing was sharp. I just was able to get through five."
He was thankful for the hitting support.
"They've been unbelievable," Hutchison said of his teammates.
"They're pretty hot right now. Fortunately I had that, and they were
able to overcome what I did."
Left-hander Aaron Loup took over for Toronto in the sixth and
pitched two scoreless innings. Right-hander Todd Redmond and
left-hander Rob Rasmussen followed with one shutout inning apiece to
complete the win.
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The Blue Jays (30-22) took a 2-0 lead in the first. Shortstop Jose
Reyes led off with a bunt single and scored on a double off the top
of the left field wall by Cabrera. Designated hitter Jose Bautista
singled to score Cabrera.
The Rays (23-29) tied the game in the third. DeJesus hit his fifth
homer of the season to right with one out. Third baseman Evan
Longoria and left fielder Matt Joyce walked, and Jennings singled to
load the bases. Loney hit a sacrifice fly to left.
The Blue Jays took a 5-2 lead in the fourth as Navarro and Tolleson
homered on consecutive fastballs from Bedard. It was the second
homer of the season for both. Right fielder Kevin Pillar singled
(originally scored an error on second baseman Cole Figueroa but
later changed). A sacrifice by center fielder Anthony Gose and a
groundout by Reyes put Pillar at third, and Cabrera knocked him home
with his third hit of the game.
Jennings followed a one-out double by Joyce in the fifth with his
fifth homer of the season. Loney followed with his second homer of
the season to tie the game at 5.
The Blue Jays took a 9-5 lead in their fifth, with doubles by
Encarnacion and third baseman Brett Lawrie and a single by Navarro
chasing Bedard. Colome took over and walked pinch hitter Juan
Francisco. Gose's infield single loaded the bases. Reyes walked to
force in a run, and Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly.
Bedard (2-3) wound up charged with eight runs on 13 hits in
four-plus innings.
NOTES: The Rays put OF Brandon Guyer (left thumb fracture) on the
15-day disabled list. He was injured making a diving play Sunday on
a double by OF Grady Sizemore in the fifth inning of Tampa Bay's 8-5
win over the Boston Red Sox. RHP Alex Colome was called up from
Triple-A Durham, and he pitched four innings of two-run ball Monday.
Colome was reinstated Sunday after serving a 50-day suspension for
using a performance enhancing substance. ... After their two-run
first, the Blue Jays have scored first in 33 games this season, tops
in the majors. ... RHP Alex Cobb (1-1, 1.40 ERA) will start Tuesday
for the Rays, his second start since being reinstated from the
disabled list after recovering from a left oblique strain. LHP Mark
Buehrle (8-1, 2.16 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays.
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