MLB: Toronto 3, Tampa Bay 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Ricky Romero held Tampa Bay to one hit over eight innings Tuesday and the Toronto Blue Jays handcuffed the Rays 3-1.

Romero (9-9) yielded one run the only hit he allowed -- a seventh-inning solo homer by Desmond Jennings.

The left-hander worked around four walks and struck out seven while tossing 65 of his 109 pitches for strikes, lifting Toronto to a victory in the first of a three-game series.

Jon Rauch earned his 10th save despite allowing two hits in the ninth.

Jose Bautista smacked his 32nd homer, a solo shot, and Yunel Escobar added a bases-empty clout for the Blue Jays.

David Price (9-10) pitched well but absorbed the defeat, yielding three runs on five hits in a 6 2/3-inning effort.