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Evan Longoria leaves after HBP, says 'gut feeling' he won't miss time

MLB, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO -- Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria left Thursday night's 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning after he was hit on the left hip by a pitch.

Longoria, who leads the majors in consecutive games played with 252, said after the game it was his "gut feeling" he plays Friday, according to the Tampa Tribune.

Mikie Mahtook pinch ran for Longoria, who was drilled by Blue Jays reliever Marco Estrada.

That came one inning after Rays right-hander Chris Archer hit Toronto's Edwin Encarnacion on the right elbow. Archer also hit Toronto catcher Russell Martin in the second.

After Longoria left, an animated Archer leaned against the top railing of the Rays' first base dugout, yelling and gesturing at Toronto's dugout.

Home plate umpire Laz Diaz eventually removed his mask and walked toward Archer, telling him to calm down.

"I think there was some intent there,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said of the pitch that hit Longoria.

The Rays and Blue Jays still have 15 games against one another, starting with a three-game series that opens April 24 at Tropicana Field.

"It should make for an interesting rest of the year against these guys,'' Longoria said.

Even though he felt he was drilled intentionally, Longoria said he wasn't angry at Estrada, his former college teammate at Long Beach State.

"We have a history of friendship,'' Longoria said. "I don't have any hard feelings toward him.''

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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