ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Ben Zobrist and Johnny Damon homered Saturday, helping the Tampa Bay Rays tighten the American League wild card race with a 6-2 win over Toronto.
Zobrist's solo blast in the fourth inning broke a 2-2 tie and Damon (3-for-3, four RBI) sealed it with a three-run shot in the eighth.
Tampa Bay pulled to within 1 1/2 games of reeling Boston atop the AL wild card standings with four games remaining.
Alex Torres (1-1) earned the victory with five innings of shutout relief after starter Jeff Niemann was pulled following a first inning in which he allowed two runs on a pair of hits.
Toronto's Ricky Romero (15-11) was tagged with the loss, surrendering six runs on on six hits over 7 2/3 innings.
Jose Bautista hit his 43rd homer of the year, a two-run blast in the first, for the Blue Jays.
