TORONTO -- Catcher Curt Casali is one of 16 rookies used by the Tampa Bay Rays his season, which equals the club record.

He is doing his best to stand out from the crowd.

Casali led off the eighth inning with his second home run in his 14th game since being called up from the minors on June 13 and it proved to be the game winner Saturday in a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

"It was pretty cool," Casali said. "It definitely was not in my mind to do that. I'm just trying to get on base any way I can. I was pumped. I'm not going to lie. Nail biter like that.

"After (the 6-2 loss on Friday), you're trying to get the second half off to a good start and anything I can do to help the team win, I'm going to be excited about."

Casali's home run, which also was the second of his career, came on a 1-and-0 cutter from Blue Jays right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera (0-1) and set up a rubber match in the three-game series on Sunday.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer also homered for the Rays (47-46).

Guyer's home run tied the game as the Rays came up with a couple of big hits.

"They (big hits) eluded us a lot before the break," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Today we won the ballgame because we pitched well but we got big hits. Casali and Guyer both, those were huge at bats."

Right fielder Jose Bautista homered for the Blue Jays (46-47).

"Very painful," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of the loss. "It was a battle all day, both sides pitched well. We coughed it up late via the home run ball. It's tough.

"If we don't improve there, it's going to be a long year."

Rays right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen (2-5) pitched the seventh to pick up the win.

After right-hander Brad Boxberger pitched the eighth for the Rays, left-hander Jake McGee pitched the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.

The teams will play the rubber match of the three-game series Sunday at Rogers Centre.

Rays right-hander Erasmo Ramirez allowed four hits and one run while striking out four in 4 2/3 innings and did not factor in the decision.

Blue Jays right-handed knuckleballer R.A. Dickey allowed four hits, one walk and one run in six innings and had four strikeouts. Dickey did not figure in the decision and has not won in five starts since June 18. He had lost four straight decisions before Saturday.

Dickey has suffered from a lack of run support. He left with a 2-1 lead, but the bullpen could not hold it. Dickey has received an average of 3.7 runs per game in 19 starts from the highest scoring team in the majors. He doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break.

"It's been a peculiar year in that regard, but I've been feeling really good since early June," said Dickey, whose record remained at 3-10.

Said Gibbons: "He pitched great, he really did. He gave us what we needed. You get a start like that from anybody, you'll take it. They were good on the other side too."

Added Cash: "You could tell the knuckleball was giving us fits because they weren't coming down. They were kind of staying on that same plane where it seems like they take off and gain speed. He threw a lot of pitches, but I don't think we ever had solid at bats against him."

The Rays opened the scoring in the third after Dickey issued a four-pitch walk to shortstop Tim Beckham to lead off the inning.

According to first base umpire Ben May, Dickey picked off Beckham at first but the out call was overturned by a video review after a Tampa Bay challenge.

Beckham took second on a balk, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a ground-rule double to right by designated hitter John Jaso.

Center fielder Kevin Pillar opened the home fifth with a double and took third on a groundout to second by left fielder Ezequiel Carrera.

Second baseman Devon Travis was given a life when his foul deflected off the glove of first baseman James Loney, who reached into the stands in an attempted catch.

Travis took advantage by hitting a double down the right-field line to tie the game.

Bautista led off the home sixth with his 18th homer of the season, driving a 2-and-0 fastball from right-hander Steve Geltz into the third deck.

Left-hander Aaron Loup took over in the seventh from Dickey and allowed Guyer's fourth homer of the season on a 1-and-2 changeup with one out.

NOTES: Rays OF Desmond Jennings (knee) began working out with Class A Charlotte on Saturday with no date set for a return. He has been on the disabled list since April 26. ... INF Tim Beckham started at shortstop Saturday after INF Jake Elmore started Friday. With SS Asdrubal Cabrera (right hamstring strain) out until at least the end of the month, manager Kevin Cash is alternating Elmore and Beckham, depending on the opposing pitcher. ... The Rays signed second-round draft pick C Chris Betts and announced he will have reconstructive elbow surgery. ... The Blue Jays did not sign second-round draft pick RHP Brady Singer by the Friday afternoon deadline. The 18-year-old will attend Florida. ... RHP Marco Estrada (6-5, 3.52 ERA) will start the series finale Sunday for the Blue Jays against Rays RHP Chris Archer (9-6, 2.74 ERA).