TORONTO (AP) — Cesar Ramos got his first career win after replacing the injured Jeff Niemann, and Ben Zobrist homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Monday night.
Luke Scott and Sean Rodriguez each had two RBIs for the Rays, who have won two straight after losing six of their previous seven.
The Rays had to go to their bullpen early, with Niemann knocked out after he was struck on the right foot by Adam Lind’s grounder in the first. The right-hander recovered to make the out but walked gingerly around the mound and was checked by the trainer before finishing the inning.
Niemann warmed up for the second but was unable to continue, with the left-handed Ramos brought on to replace him after a conference on the mound involving the trainer and Rays manager Joe Maddon.
