TORONTO (Interstat) — Nathan Lukes hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the fifth inning, Shane Bieber pitched five effective innings and the Toronto Blue Jays strengthened their grip on the American League East by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Friday night at Rogers Centre.

In the opener of a season-ending three-game series with major playoff implications, the Blue Jays entered tied with the New York Yankees for the league’s best record. By holding on for the victory before a crowd of 42,184, Toronto improved to 92-68 and now holds the tiebreaker over New York. The Blue Jays also improved to an impressive 52-27 at home.

The game was a tight contest until the bottom of the fifth. With the score tied 2-2, George Springer sparked the rally with a sharp line-drive single to center field. Lukes then stepped up and connected on a fly ball to right-center field for his 12th home run of the season, plating Springer and giving Toronto a lead it would not relinquish.

Lukes was the offensive standout for the Blue Jays, finishing 2 for 4 with three RBIs. His first-inning single had brought home Springer, who had doubled, to tie the game at 1-1 after Toronto had conceded an early run. Springer reached base three times in the game, scoring two of Toronto’s four runs.

The Rays had briefly taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning on back-to-back solo home runs. Junior Caminero launched his 45th homer of the season, a line drive to right field, and Jonathan Aranda followed immediately with his 13th, a fly ball to right-center. Tampa Bay would manage only six hits in the game, unable to sustain the early power surge.

Toronto answered right back in the bottom half of the second to knot the score again. Daulton Varsho doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Ernie Clement, making it 2-2 and setting the stage for Lukes’ later heroics.

Bieber (4-2) earned the win for Toronto, working five innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three. The Blue Jays’ bullpen was flawless, combining for four innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. Mason Fluharty was particularly sharp, pitching two perfect innings and striking out four. Jeff Hoffman closed the door in the ninth for his 34th save of the season, working around two walks to secure the victory.

Rays starter Adrian Houser (8-5) took the loss, surrendering four runs on seven hits over five innings of work.

The loss dropped the Rays to 77-83 on the season, concluding a disappointing campaign. The two teams will continue their series Saturday afternoon.