TORONTO -- Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer and Toronto's bullpen kept the Rays scoreless over the last four innings as the Blue Jays beat Tampa Bay 4-1 on Saturday.
Smoak, who came into the game as one of Toronto's better hitters, went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .274. Smoak has 12 runs batted in this season, second only to Kendrys Morales (14).
Russell Martin drove in a run for the Blue Jays (7-17) and Francisco Liriano (2-2) allowed a run on four hits while walking four and striking out six through five-plus innings.
Joe Biagini pitched two scoreless innings, Joe Smith worked the eighth and Roberto Osuna had a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the year.
Matt Andriese (1-1) allowed four runs, three earned, and struck out four through seven innings. He also walked three batters and was charged with one balk.
Jesus Sucre had the lone RBI for the Rays (12-13).
Jose Bautista gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the first inning, scoring on an error to shortstop Tim Beckham, who threw a Morales ground ball wide of first base while trying to make the out. Morales had a chance to extend the lead but was thrown out at the plate on a Smoak single to end the inning.
Sucre's RBI-single scored Beckham to tie the game in the second. The play at the plate was a close one -- Bautista had rifled an on-target throw from right field to Martin, who swiped at Beckham as he crossed home. Beckham was initially called out but a video review confirmed he beat the tag.
Martin drove in Smoak with a long double to centre field for a 2-1 Toronto lead in the fourth inning. It was the catcher's fourth RBI of the season and his first to come via something other than a solo home run.
Liriano left the game in the sixth with two on and nobody out following a walk to Rickie Weeks Jr. and a Chris Coghlan fielding error that allowed Corey Dickerson to reach. Biagini got two strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning.
Bautista led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a Morales groundout and scored on Smoak's fourth homer of the year, a towering shot off Andriese to straightaway centre-field.
Attendance was 42,419 and included Toronto Maple Leafs star and Calder Trophy finalist Auston Matthews, clad in a denim jacket, grey Blue Jays cap and sunglasses.
NOTES: Steven Souza Jr. left the game after he was hit in the left hand by a Biagini pitch in the seventh inning. The team said he had a left hand contusion. Initial X-rays were negative. ... Bautista is two hits shy of reaching 1,000 as a Blue Jay. ... Toronto caps its three-game series against the Rays on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Aaron Sanchez is expected to come off the disabled list to start for the Blue Jays.
