The two teams combined for 33 hits, 19 runs, and six homers.
The Rays withstood a disappointing pitching performance from rookie David Price, who lasted just three innings and surrendered nine hits — three of which were home runs — and six earned runs. He threw just 56 pitches and watched his ERA bloom to 5.60.
After Price's early exit, Lance Cormier couldn't stop the bleeding, giving up three runs on five hits — another of which was a home run — in 2 1/3 innings. For the rest of the way, though, the Rays bullpen was impressive, surrendering just two hits over the final 6 2/3 innings to keep Toronto at bay.
The Blue Jays — who sent Roy Halladay to the mound on Friday night only to watch him fan 10, give up two runs, and earn a no-decision in an eventual loss — got a six-inning, five-run performance out of Brian Tallet. He struck out two and walked one.
The Jays scored eight unanswered runs through the first four frames, beginning with an Adam Lind double and a RBI groundout by Kevin Millar. Toronto got its next six runs off four homers the the span of three innings, courtesy of Juan Bautista, Aaron Hill (2), and Alex Rios.
Tampa finally got on the board in the sixth, when B.J. Upton's single scored Dioner Navarro, but the Jays got the run back in the bottom of the frame.
Then, finally, Tampa's offense heated up and scored eight unanswered runs over three innings to tie the game at nine. Carlos Pena started things off with a three-run double in the seventh, then came around on a Willy Aybar groundout. Pat Burrell brought two runs home in the eighth with a single, and ninth-inning solo shots by Pena and Aybar deadlocked the score.
Jason Bartlett — replacing Aybar at shortstop — notched the game-winning double in the top of the 12, scoring Ben Zobrist.
Reliever Joe Nelson made things interesting in the bottom of the 12th — he issued three walks and struck out one but got out of the inning unscathed and earned the win, while Toronto's Shawn Camp was saddled with the loss.
Toronto's Hill went 3-for-5 on the day with two homers, three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk.
Tampa's Pena — batting a meager .221 — led the way for the Rays, going 2-for-6 with four RBIs.
