CLEVELAND _ With Austin Meadows leading the way from the start, the Rays beat the Indians, 6-3, Sunday to take three of four in the weekend series.
That sent them home for a Monday holiday matinee against the Blue Jays and got them to the traditional Memorial Day checkpoint a season-best 12 games over .500 at 31-19 and on a pace for 100 wins.
Meadows had a quite a day, on base five times in going 4-for-4 and being hit by a pitch, scoring two runs and knocking in three.
He launched a long homer to center on Trevor Bauers' fifth pitch of the game, a blast estimated at 431 feet, second longest of his nascent career. He singled and scored during a two-run Rays rally in the third. He knocked in their fifth run with a single in the seventh. And he doubled in the ninth to score Kevin Kiermaier and make it 6-1.
Despite missing 15 games with a sprained thumb, he ranks second on the Rays, to Brandon Lowe, with 10 homers and 26 RBIs, and is hitting .341.
Jalen Beeks also has a big hand in the win, working 4 2/3 scoreless innings behind opener Ryne Stanek and allowing only two hits. Just called up Oliver Drake got five outs to get them to the ninth.
Lefty Adam Kolarek made it a bit interesting by allowing the first three Indians to reach, and two to score on an infield out and a sharp grounder to third Daniel Robertson couldn't handle.
Jose Alvarado, who had his own issues on Friday in walking three and giving up two runs that led to a loss, took over and finished the job, striking out Oscar Mercado and getting Carlos Santana to ground out.
The Rays built an early lead.
Meadows started the game with his third career leadoff homer. They added two in the third with Daniel Robertson was hit by a pitch, Meadows singled, Tommy Pham followed with an RBI single, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, and Ji-Man Choi delivered a sac fly.
They made it 4-0 in the fourth when Kevin Kiermaier doubled and, after being checked by head athletic trainer Joe Benge as it looked like he pulled up running to second, stole third and then raced home as the throw bounced into left field.
Robertson doubled to lead off the seventh and Meadows followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Mercado kept it from being a shutout with his first major-league homer, in the eighth off Drake.
The Rays are home for a week, hosting the Blue Jays for three games and the majors-best Twins for four. Both are managed by former Rays coaches, Charlie Montoyo in Toronto and Rocco Baldelli in Minnesota.
