ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Chris Archer pitched two-hit ball in seven scoreless innings and Brandon Guyer drove in four runs Sunday as the Tampa Bay Rays won their fifth straight, 5-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Archer (3-2) became the first American League pitcher to go four starts within one season without giving up an earned run since Zach Greinke did it for Kansas City in 2009.
Archer gave up an unearned run in a 1-0 loss to Boston on Tuesday, but he has not given up an earned run since opening day, a span of 26 2-3 innings. His ERA is 0.84.
READ MORE: Hutchison pitches gem as Blue Jays sweep Orioles with 7-6 win
Evan Longoria had three straight hits and a walk for the Rays after going 4 for 4 on Saturday. Longoria’s batting average rose from .218 to .306 in two games.
Guyer hit the second pitch from Mark Buehrle (3-1) for a home run, his first of the season.
Logan Forsythe drove in another run for the Rays in the first inning with a double after Longoria’s single.
Guyer made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, then drove in two more runs with a two-out single off Buerhle in the sixth.
Matt Andriese pitched the final two innings for the Rays.
Tim Beckham had two hits for Tampa Bay and scored twice.
Buehrle, who had been supported by 12 or more runs in each of his three preceding starts, gave up five runs on 13 hits in 5 2-3 innings.
The Blue Jays scored six runs in losing three straight at Tropicana Field, where they are 11-21 since 2012.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: RF Jose Bautista (sore right shoulder) missed his fifth straight game. … INF Maicer Izturis (groin) is progressing but not close to playing in minor league games.
Rays: CF Desmond Jennings, who left after seven innings Saturday due to left knee soreness, didn’t play.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-2, 5.14 ERA) will face Boston RHP Joe Kelly (1-0, 4.08 ERA) Monday night.
Rays: Tampa Bay plays it first game outside a dome Monday night at the New York Yankees. “I want to put some sunglasses on for batting practice,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said with a smile. The game at Yankee Stadium will be Tampa Bay’s 20th of the season. No major league team has ever gone this far into a season without playing outdoors.
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