Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays assured themselves of at least a tie for an AL wild-card berth, scoring six runs in the first inning and then holding off the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 Sunday.
The Rays began the final day of the regular season tied with Texas for the second wild-card slot. Both teams trailed Cleveland by one game for the top spot.
Cleveland played at Minnesota and the Rangers hosted the Los Angeles Angels.
The Rays used their highest-scoring first inning since 2010 to take control early. Tampa Bay led 7-0 going into the sixth before Toronto rallied. The Blue Jays put the go-ahead run at the plate in the eighth and ninth innings.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
