Rookie Alex Torres pitched five shutout innings in relief, and Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer in the eighth to seal the Tampa Bay Rays' 6-2 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

The victory pulled the Rays within 1 ½ games of the Boston Red Sox in the American League wild-card race.

Torres (1-1) collected his first major-league win in his fourth career appearance. He allowed just three hits and struck out five after replacing struggling starter Jeff Niemann to start to second inning.

Damon went 3-for-3, including his clutch two-out homer off Ricky Romero (15-11). Romero, who gave up just one earned run, lost for only the second time since mid July.

Jose Bautista, after going nine games without a homer, hit a two-run blast in the first to give the Jays a 2-0 lead. It was his major-league-leading 43rd.

Toronto made two errors and let Damon’s pop up drop in short-center field for an RBI double, allowing the Rays to score twice in the bottom of the first. Ben Zobrist belted a solo homer, leading off the fourth, for a 3-2 Rays lead.

Niemann, who had his start pushed back two days due to back soreness, threw 38 pitches in the first.