DeLuca hits go-ahead HR in eighth as Rays rally to beat Blue Jays 5-4 for 11th win in 15

TORONTO (AP) — Jonny DeLuca hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Saturday for their 11th win in 15 games.

Yandy Díaz reached base five times and Amed Rosario hit a two-run single for the Rays, who have won four of five series.

Erasmo Ramírez (3-0) worked one inning for the win, Jason Adam pitched the eighth and Garrett Cleavinger finished for his third save in three chances.

Four of Tampa Bay’s past six games have been decided by a single run. The others were two-run decisions.

Isaac Paredes singled off right-hander Nate Pearson (0-1) to begin the eighth with Tampa Bay trailing 4-3. DeLuca followed with a drive that bounced off the top of the wall in left field and went out, his second home run.

Rosario singled and José Caballero walked before Pearson was replaced by right-hander Trevor Richards, who escaped the jam without allowing another run.

Toronto (19-25) has lost four of five. Before the game, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said his struggling team can’t wait too long to get back to .500 and rejoin the postseason race.

“We believe in this talent, we believe there is time left, but there is a massive sense of urgency and we need to get it turned around soon,” Atkins said.

Toronto began the day second to last in the majors with 155 runs in 43 games. Only the Chicago White Sox (130) had scored fewer.

The Blue Jays dropped struggling outfielder George Springer from the leadoff spot to sixth and put Davis Schneider at the top of the order.

A four-time All Star and the MVP of the 2017 World Series, Springer came in batting .196 with three home runs and six RBIs. He opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the fourth.

Toronto added three more in the fifth. Daulton Varsho hit a two-run double and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with an RBI single.

The Rays chased Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman with a three-run sixth. Rosario drove in two with a bases-loaded single and Caballero’s base hit capped the rally.

Gausman allowed three runs and eight hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Rays right-hander Zach Eflin allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out three.

RAYS TRADE

Tampa Bay acquired LHP Richard Lovelady from the Cubs in exchange for minor league LHP Jeff Belge. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred RHP Jacob Waguespack (right shoulder) to the 60-day IL.

UP NEXT

RHP Alek Manoah (0-1, 4.91) is scheduled to make his third start of the season as Toronto tries to avoid its first sweep in Sunday’s series finale. RHP Aaron Civale (2-3, 5.83) is scheduled for the Rays.

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Toronto Blue Jays' Davis Schneider (36) celebrates with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) after scoring on a two-run double hit by Daulton Varsho, not shown, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman, right, celebrates as he walks off the mound at the end of the top of fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca (21) keeps his eye on the ball as he hits it foul during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho (25) hits a two-run double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) returns to the dugout after being pulled from the mound during the sixth inning of a baseball action against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zach Eflin (24) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) dives to slide safe into second base for a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Kodai Senga's injury-delayed season debut for the New York Mets was cut short after 5 1/3 innings and 73 pitches when he strained his left calf while pitching against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

After inducing Austin Riley to pop up leading off the sixth, Senga pointed toward Pete Alonso and began sprinting off the mound to clear room for the first baseman. The 31-year-old right-hander grabbed his left calf and bounced for a couple steps before falling.

Senga held his calf as he was surrounded by catcher Francisco Alvarez, manager Carlos Mendoza, his interpreter and an athletic trainer. Senga and the trainer rubbed Senga’s calf before Senga got up, exchanged hugs and handshakes with teammates on the infield and limped off.

Senga, who missed the first 102 games with a right shoulder capsule strain, allowed just two hits — including Adam Duvall’s two-run homer in the second inning — while striking out nine. He retired his final 10 batters.

Runner-up to Arizona's Corbin Carroll for NL Rookie of the Year last season, Senga was 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts after signing a $75 million, five-year contract.

Senga began a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment on July 3 and went 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts, three for Triple-A Syracuse and one for Class A Brooklyn.

Right-handed reliever Eric Orze was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and emerging reliever Dedniel Núñez was put on the 15-day injured list with a right pronator strain. Right-handers Adrian Houser and Shintaro Fujinami were designated for assignment.

Núñez, 2-0 with a 2.43 ERA and one save in 24 games, had an MRI that didn't reveal any elbow ligament damage, manager Carlos Mendoza said. The 28-year-old right-hander began feeling tightness following back-to-back appearances at Miami last Saturday and experienced discomfort again Wednesday,

Houser, acquired from Milwaukee with outfielder Tyrone Taylor on Dec. 20, was 1-5 with a 7.84 ERA and one save in seven starts and 16 relief appearances. He opened 0-3 with an 8.16 ERA in his first six starts before working himself into a late-inning bullpen role by going 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 appearances from May 10 through June 30.

Hauser was scored upon in all five of his outings this month with a 9.00 ERA.

“Even when we put him in the bullpen, he was always willing to take the baseball and do whatever the team needed,” Mendoza said. “He was such a professional. It was just hard for him to find that consistency.”

Fujinami signed to a $3.35 million, one-year deal and opened the season with Syracuse. He was recalled and placed on the 15-day injured list on May 13 with a strained right shoulder, then walked eight in 8 2/3 innings over nine rehab appearances since June 25.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Kodai Senga, right, high-fives Luis Severino while walking into the dugout during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, July 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Kodai Senga gestures while walking into the dugout during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, July 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Kodai Senga (34) reacts as he leaves the field due to an injury during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, July 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Kodai Senga grabs his leg as he reacts to an injury during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, July 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)