TORONTO (Interstat) — Drew Rasmussen pitched five solid innings and the Tampa Bay Rays pounded out 21 hits in a 12-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre before 42,881 fans.

The Rays scored three runs in the first inning and never trailed, adding two in the fourth, three in the fifth and four in the ninth. Toronto’s only runs came in the sixth. Tampa Bay improved to 58-42, while the Blue Jays fell to 46-55.

Nick Fortes led the offensive barrage, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Yandy Díaz added a 2-for-6 night with a three-run homer in the ninth and three RBIs. Chandler Simpson collected four hits in five at-bats, scored twice and drove in a run. Jonny DeLuca had two hits, including a two-run single in the first, and finished with three RBIs.

Rasmussen allowed seven hits and two earned runs over five innings, striking out five, to earn his eighth win against five losses. Cole Sulser tossed two scoreless innings of relief, and Garrett Cleavinger and Craig Kimbrel each worked a perfect inning to close it out.

Kevin Gausman took the loss for Toronto, allowing eight runs on 13 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two, falling to 4-9. Mason Fluharty and Myles Straw each recorded two outs in relief.

The game lasted 2 hours, 58 minutes.

Tampa Bay struck quickly in the first. After Yandy Díaz lined out and Jonathan Aranda flied out, Junior Caminero drew a walk. Cedric Mullins doubled to right, putting runners at second and third. DeLuca followed with a single to right that scored Caminero and Mullins. Simpson then singled to right, plating DeLuca and giving the Rays a 3-0 lead.

Rasmussen worked out of a jam in the bottom of the first. Nathan Lukes singled, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out, Ernie Clement singled and George Springer singled to load the bases. But Daulton Varsho popped out and Kazuma Okamoto struck out to end the threat.

After a quiet second and third innings, the Rays extended their lead in the fourth. Díaz singled, Caminero walked and, after a forceout, DeLuca singled to left to drive in Mullins, making it 5-0. DeLuca was caught stealing to end the inning.

The decisive blow came in the fifth. Simpson singled and Ben Williamson singled. After Taylor Walls struck out, Fortes launched a three-run homer to left-center, his fourth of the season, pushing the lead to 8-0.

Toronto finally broke through in the sixth off Rasmussen. Clement singled, Springer doubled and Varsho singled to score Clement. One batter later, Okamoto grounded into a double play that allowed Springer to score, cutting the deficit to 8-2.

The Rays put the game out of reach in the ninth. Simpson singled, Williamson singled and Walls reached on a fielder’s choice that erased Simpson at the plate. Fortes then singled to drive in Williamson. Díaz followed with a three-run homer to center, scoring Walls and Fortes. Aranda singled, and Mullins singled, but DeLuca grounded out to end the inning.

Toronto went quietly in the ninth. Varsho grounded out, Okamoto struck out and Brandon Valenzuela grounded out to end the game.

Fortes continued a strong series, having gone 2-for-4 with a homer in Monday’s 7-1 win over the Blue Jays. In his previous four games, Fortes had a combined 3-for-11 line with two RBIs. Tampa Bay has won two straight after dropping four of five in Boston. Toronto has lost three of four.

The Rays and Blue Jays meet again Wednesday in the third game of a four-game series. Tampa Bay then returns home to face Cleveland, while Toronto visits Boston.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tampa Bay 5, Toronto 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Toronto a 52.70 percent probability to win. The Rays were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total of 14 runs went under the over-under line of 7.5.