Manoah, Merrifield lead Jays to win over Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Toronto interim manager John Schneider is willing to go all in trying to get the top AL wild card and the home playoff series that goes with it.

Alex Manoah and Whit Merrifield helped the Blue Jays move closer to that goal.

Manoah pitched seven shutout innings, Merrifield hit a three-run homer and the Blue Jays regained the first wild-card spot with a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.

“Love it, man,” Manoah said when asked about pitching in big games. “We've got a great team. Being able to come to battle with these guys, it's what I dreamed of my whole life right here. Being on that mound, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

The Blue Jays lead Tampa Bay by one game. The top wild card finisher will host all games in their best-of-three opening-round series, while the other two wild cards play strictly on the road.

Schneider said Thursday he would use Manoah in the final regular-season game if home field was at stake. Hosting in Toronto would mean a great deal after the Blue Jays spent 2020 and part of 2021 playing home games away from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rays could also have a real home-field advantage at Tropicana Field, where they are 51-29. Tampa Bay's road mark is 33-39.

“This is an interesting place," Schneider said. “I think guys say that, whether it’s from the roof, the lighting, the turf, the dirt in the infield. Their mound seems high. Their acoustics are weird. It seems like their players embrace it a little bit, and use it as an advantage at times. It’s something you’ve got to work around the best you can.”

Manoah (15-7) scattered four hits, walked two and struck out eight while throwing a season-high 113 pitches. The righty worked out of a