Clan Wars » as the Giants struggle to get healthy cornerbacks on the field

TORONTO -- Humming along through five innings, all it took was two mistakes to ruin R.A. Dickeys Sunday afternoon. The veteran right-hander had his knuckleball dancing until the top of the sixth, when Tampa Bays Luke Scott and Kelly Johnson hit back-to-back home runs on successive pitches to propel the Rays to a 4-3 victory and a three-game sweep of Toronto. "That seems to have been my bane this year. Its not all the time that you make a mistake with one and it gets hit out of the park. Its just this year its been the case," said Dickey, the 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner. "You make a mistake and they pop one out." With the score tied 1-1 and James Loney on board with a single, Scott belted his ninth home run of the season just over the wall in right to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. "His knuckleball is a great pitch, its really tough to square up," Scott said. "It should be illegal to throw that pitch. Theres a reason why he won the Cy Young last year. Its a real good pitch." The Rays (58-41) had barely finished celebrating the two-run bomb when Johnson hit a towering drive into the second deck in right for the former Toronto second basemans 15th home run of the campaign. Johnsons homer marked the fourth time Tampa Bay has gone back-to-back in 2013, including twice against Toronto (45-52), and the sixth time the Blue Jays have surrendered back-to-back home runs this season. "We needed a little bit better pitching performance than (what) I gave us today," said Dickey, whose team has lost four straight. "We needed a big one out of me today and I was hopeful to go into the seventh. I felt really good -- could have easily gone back out and its just frustrating that the results were what they were." Evan Longoria also went deep for the Rays, who hit seven home runs in the weekend series. Toronto scored two in the ninth to cut Tampa Bays lead to one when Jose Reyes doubled home Josh Thole and Brett Lawrie, but Rays closer Fernando Rodney struck out Jose Bautista and got a ground balls from Edwin Encarnacion and Melky Cabrera to pick up his 24th save. "Tough one. We had our opportunity to at least tie the game," Reyes said. "It is what it is and its a tough one. Disappointing." Dickey, who has not won since Canada Day and is now tied for the major league lead for home runs allowed with 23, agreed with fellow Toronto starter Mark Buehrles assessment after Saturdays loss that the Blue Jays, who were expected to contend, might be "overrated." "Its hard to see it any other way ... because of our record. I think the capability that this team has is still very, very good," said Dickey (8-11) after giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight. "We obviously still havent put all the pieces together and hopefully were going to be able to do that. This is a team thats not just built for (one) year." Rays starter Chris Archer (5-3) had a stellar outing for Tampa Bay, giving up one run on five hits over seven innings. The 23-year-old right-hander also walked four and struck out one batter for the Rays, who have now won five straight games, 13 of their last 14 and 17 of 19 to climb into second place in the American League East. "Ive realized where my potential is and Im striving for that every time out," Archer said. Toronto, which occupies the AL East basement, had a chance to get back in it in the bottom of the sixth after Scott and Johnson went deep, but Lawrie popped out to second with the bases loaded for the third out. A large section of the sun-soaked but frustrated crowd of 41,247 at Rogers Centre, which watched the home team waste a number of similar opportunities in Saturdays loss, voiced its displeasure with a smattering of boos. "Right now were not playing good enough baseball to win a lot of games. Thats just basically what it comes down to. They outplayed us in all three games ... theyre on a nice little roll," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Theyve got a good ballclub, great pitching. Thats just the way it is." Toronto opened the scoring in the second when Tholes ground rule double to left brought Cabrera home from third. Longoria tied it in the top of the fourth when he took Dickeys first pitch of the inning to the opposite field in right for his 20th home run of the season. Dickey got in trouble in the top of the fifth when Tampa Bay put runners on second and third after two singles and a passed ball, but the 38-year-old struck out both Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist to keep the score tied 1-1 before things unravelled the following inning. "The buck always starts with the guy in front of the camera. If I turn in a few more outings that are better outings we might be at .500. I think it starts with our pitching and me in particular," said Dickey, before adding: "We are all just spokes in a big wheel and everybody plays a part." Notes: Prior to the game, the Blue Jays added former slugger Carlos Delgado to the clubs Level of Excellence. Delgado joins former players Dave Stieb, Roberto Alomar, Tony Fernandez, Joe Carter and George Bell, along with former manager Cito Gaston, former general manager Pat Gillick, late broadcaster Tom Cheek and current president and CEO Paul Beeston in being honoured. ... Dickey only gave up 24 home runs all of last season. ... The Blue Jays activated Cabrera (left knee tendinitis) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned reliever Neil Wagner to triple-A Buffalo. ... The Rays activated Loney off the paternity list and optioned infielder Ryan Roberts to triple-A Durham. ... The Blue Jays open an interleague series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre on Monday, while the Rays travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox. 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Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. With two of their top cornerbacks struggling with groin injuries, the New York Giants are set to sign veteran Coty Sensabaugh to a one-year deal, according to sources.Sensabaugh was released by the Los Angeles Rams last week, four games into a three-year deal worth upward of $19 million. He earned $4.5 million for his time with the Rams, and with no offset language in his deal will now double-dip with the Giants.The move comes as the Giants struggle to get healthy cornerbacks on the field. Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are both dealing with groin injuries. Rodgers-Cromartie limped through 61 snaps on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. Apple left the contest early after missing the previous week with a hamstring injury.Coach Ben McAdoo didnt appear optimistic about theirr availability this week.ddddddddddddIt is early to say right now. They will get another treatment here coming up, but right now they are going to get some treatment and they will either be used in a limited role or wont practice early in the week, McAdoo said on Monday. We will have to wait and see. That has yet to be determined.The Giants played cornerbacks Leon Hall, Trevin Wade and Michael Hunter at times in the 23-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Hunter was beat for a 29-yard touchdown in his limited snaps.Sensabaugh, 27, had primarily played in the slot for the Tennessee Titans and Rams. He has played in 62 career games and has three career interceptions. ' ' '