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ST. PETERSBURG http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays found success with a new pitching formula.Ryan Yarbrough got his rookie-leading 16th win and the Rays turned another bullpen game into their 90th victory, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 9-4 on Sunday.The Rays (90-72) went to the unconventional plan of using relievers to open games in addition to traditional starters in mid-May because of injuries.The results were about equal, as Tampa Bay went 46-38 with regular starters and 44-34 when utilizing the bullpen, and the trend began to take hold around the majors. But no team did it as often as the Rays.“I don’t think you can really argue with the results we’ve had with it, and not just with me but with other guys too,” Yarbrough said. “For it to work that well was a big blessing, and you never know, if it didn’t work that well, we’d never know where we could be right now.”Ryne Stanek was Tampa Bay’s “opener” for the 29th time and went two scoreless innings. Yarbrough (16-6) followed and gave up two runs and four hits over three innings to get his 14th relief win.Austin Pruitt went the final 3 1/3 innings to pick up his fourth save. He’s gone three or more innings in four of his five career saves.The Rays went 87-60 after losing 12 of their first 15 games.“Hopefully the groundwork has been laid,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “The core group that has gotten some opportunities, played at a really high level, learned how to win together.”Outgoing Blue Jays manager John Gibbons decided to have some fun in the finale and let 35-year-old catcher Russell Martin manage the game.Martin said he “thought about it for a couple seconds” before deciding to keep himself on the bench, declining the opportunity to serve as a player-manager.“It was fun,” Martin said. “Didn’t realize how much went into it. A cool experience. It’s tougher than it looks.”Toronto announced Wednesday that Gibbons will not be back as manager next season.“He’s one of my favorites Phil Niekro Jersey ,” Martin said. “I’m going to miss him. He’s a special guy. He’s kind of like having a second dad.”Over two stints totaling 11 seasons, Gibbons went 793-789 with the Blue Jays.Toronto finished 73-89, a three-game drop from 2017.Tampa Bay improved 10 games from last year and joined the 2012 Rays (90) and 2013 Texas Rangers (91) as the only 90-win teams since the second wild card was introduced in 2012 to miss the postseason.Joey Wendle and Jake Bauers both had two RBIs for the Rays, who went 13-6 against Toronto. Tampa Bay has dominated the series at home, going 111-74.Sam Gaviglio (3-10) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.SEATS AVAILABLEDespite the strong on-field showing, the Rays’ announced home attendance of 1,154,973 was their lowest since 2005 (1,141,699). Tampa Bay drew 1,253,619 last season. Sunday’s crowd was 13,313. Only Miami (811,104) drew fewer fans.STAYING THE COURSEThe Rays are happy with the progress of two-way player Brendan McKay at Single-A Charlotte this season and plan to continue the experiment. “Where this ends up going I think we don’t know exactly still http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , but we’re really encouraged,” Tampa Bay senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.Bloom said McKay, whose season ended prematurely because of an oblique injury, has been working in the instructional league and has gotten back “to where he’s a healthy player.”RAYS’ HOT STREAKSTommy Pham walked in the third to extend his on-base streak to 32 games, the longest active streak in the majors. Johnny Damon holds the team record with 39. … Wendle set a club rookie record by hitting .300. … Mallex Smith stole 40 bases.UP NEXTBlue Jays: Open the 2019 season at home against Detroit on March 28.Rays: Host AL West champion Houston on opening day of 2019. Plus a confirmed injury that may sideline a bullpen arm to start the season"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Twinkie Town Farm ReportSatire, Irreverence, & Other HumorGame RecapsNewsSpring TrainingSpring TrainingLucas Duda opts out; Twins make additional cutsNew,13commentsPlus a confirmed injury that may sideline a bullpen arm to start the seasonEDTShareTweetShareShareLucas Duda opts out; Twins make additional cutsJordan Johnson-USA TODAY SportsDuring today’s Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Minnesota Twins announced another round of roster cuts along with another player exercising his opt-out clause, according to Dan Hayes with The Athletic (Twitter links).First baseman/outfielder Lucas Duda, one of the many non-roster invitees in Twins camp this spring, exercised his opt-out option today as the Twins informed him that he will not be making the Opening Day roster. In 13 games this spring, Duda hit .258/.395/.355, 3 2B Chipper Jones Jersey , 7 BB. He was in competition with Tyler Austin for a bench spot to back up C.J. Cron at first base along with some possible outfield work. The Twins also sent three non-roster invitee bullpen arms and a catcher to minor-league camp: lefty Justin Nicolino, righties Ryan Eades and Jake Reed, and catcher/first baseman Wynston Sawyer. Nicolino was fairly impressive in 6 games, posting a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 IP, ER, 4 K. Eades posted a 1.29 ERA in 7 games, allowing a homer (his only earned run allowed), and striking out nine batters in seven total innings. Reed (one of three that were in camp with that last name), also provided some decent results in camp: 5 games, 3.86 ERA, 4.2 IP, 2 ER, HR, 3 BB John Smoltz Jersey , 8 K. Sawyer saw some time both behind the plate and at first base; he played in 15 games and went to the plate 19 times, batting .176/.263/.294 with 2 2B, an RBI, and 2 BB. These changes leave the Twins with 36 players left in camp and with these cuts, three catchers remain (Castro, Garver, and Astudillo), along with 12 bullpen arms. That being said, Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey mentioned that Gabriel Moya will most likely start the season on the injured list due to issues with his pitching shoulder, according to Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (via Twitter).