Longoria helps Rays head home with winning record
It takes more than a weeklong slump and a team-record-tying, three-error game to keep Evan Longoria down.
The third baseman stepped up Thursday, driving in four runs to lead the Rays to a 9-4 win at Toronto and a positive finish on a treacherous road trip. Tampa Bay won three of its last four and finished 4-6 to head home with a winning record (7-6).
"On a tough road trip, all those day games in a row, all the adversity that we dealt with, to go home with our head above water so to speak after a real tough road trip with a two-game winning streak and some good momentum is a big positive," Longoria said.
Longoria singled home a run in the first inning, hit a long two-run homer in the fifth (his first since opening day) and doubled in a run in the ninth.
"He's definitely going to be there when you need it," manager Joe Maddon said. "He's not going to be knocked down in any way, shape or form by what's perceived to be a bad day. He's a true professional. He comes ready every day, his work ethic is stellar, so it does not surprise me."
For the season, Longoria is hitting .327 with 11 RBI.
