Estrada tosses gem as Blue Jays beat Archer, Rays 4-0

TORONTO -- Last month, Marco Estrada took a perfect game into the eighth inning against Tampa Bay.

On Sunday, the Blue Jays' right-hander turned in another exceptional performance agains the Rays.

Estrada pitched eight shutout innings to outpitch Chris Archer, Chris Colabello and Jose Bautista each hit two-run homers and Toronto beat Tampa Bay 4-0.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Estrada "kind of picked up right where he left off against us."

Estrada (7-5) has not allowed a run in 21 innings against the Rays this season.

"I guess the changeup works a little better against them," he said.

Estrada struck out five and walked none to win back-to-back starts as the Blue Jays snapped a streak of four straight series losses.

"He was as good as you could be," manager John Gibbons said.

Estrada allowed just two hits through the first seven innings, with both runners erased trying to steal.

Estrada retired 15 straight before Logan Forsythe's one-out single in the eighth. He ended his outing by striking out David DeJesus and Tim Beckham.

Roberto Osuna finished for the Blue Jays.

Archer (9-7) came in 3-0 with an 0.41 ERA in three starts against Toronto this season. The All-Star right-hander was seeking to hold the Blue Jays to fewer than two runs for the fifth straight meeting, a streak that began last September.

"He's been a nemesis of ours," Gibbons said.

After Bautista reached on an infield single in the first, Archer set down the next 11 batters before Toronto broke a scoreless tie in the fifth. Justin Smoak singled and Colabello followed with a two-run homer.

It was just the second homer Archer has allowed in seven career starts at Rogers Centre.

Archer, who is winless in four starts, allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings.

Before speaking to reporters after the game, Archer taped a handwritten sign to his locker that read: "If you don't like it ... pitch BETTER," a quote from former teammate James Shields.

"You have to turn the page whether you do good or bad because there's always room for improvement," Archer explained.

Bautista made it 4-0 by connecting off Brandon Gomes in the eighth.

James Loney opened the Rays second with a single but was thrown out trying to steal second as DeJesus struck out for an inning-ending double play.

In the third, Beckham led off with a double and advanced on Kevin Kiermaier's sacrifice. After Beckham didn't tag up on Rene Rivera's shallow fly to left, he was picked off third base by catcher Dioner Navarro to end the threat.

"Trying to make something happen, being overaggressive," Beckham said of his miscue. "Not an excuse, should never happen."

SANCHEZ TABBED FOR RELIEF ROLE

Gibbons said RHP Aaron Sanchez, out since June 5 with a strained muscle in his back, will rejoin the team later this week and work out of the bullpen. Sanchez, who had a 1.09 ERA in 24 relief appearances last season, had gone 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 11 starts this season. "We want to strengthen that area," Gibbons said of the move. Sanchez is scheduled to make a relief appearance in a rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

BP FOR RAYS PITCHERS

With an interleague series at Philadelphia up next, Rays pitchers took batting practice before the game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: OF Steven Souza Jr. (right finger) went 1 for 3 as the DH in a rehab game with Class A Charlotte on Saturday night. He is scheduled to play seven innings in the outfield for Charlotte on Sunday and could rejoin the Rays on Tuesday. ... SS Asdrubal Cabrera (right hamstring) is expected to resume baseball activities this week.

UP NEXT

Rays: LHP Matt Moore (1-0, 7.07 ERA) makes his fourth start since returning from elbow surgery as Tampa Bay opens a three-game series at Philadelphia on Monday. Moore beat Houston in his previous start, his first victory since Sept. 29, 2013. RHP David Buchanan (0-5, 7.58 ERA) starts for the Phillies.

Blue Jays: Toronto is off Monday before beginning a three-game series at Oakland on Tuesday. LHP Mark Buehrle (10-5, 3.34 ERA) faces former Blue Jays RHP Kendall Graveman (6-5, 3.38 ERA). Buehrle has worked at least seven innings in each of his past six starts, and hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of them.