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Overbay helps Blue Jays end skid

Jun 23, 2008 - 3:28 AM By David Assad PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays broke out of their hitting slump by pounding out 11 hits en route to an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at PNC Park.

Toronto snapped a seven-game losing streak, which had all come against National League opponents. It was only the second time in the past 12 games that the Blue Jays scored more than four runs.

With the score tied at 4-4 in the top of the sixth, Toronto took the lead for good as Lyle Overbay drove in two runs with a double off the base of the center field wall. Scott Rolen followed with a two-run blast to left, extending the Blue Jays' bulge to 8-4.

"We were aggressive in the zone and tried to put pressure on them," Rolen said. "I've been hearing it a lot about not being aggressive and I don't agree with it. We're up there to hit and we're always up there to hit. I've had a good feel the past two games and hopefully I can keep going."

Toronto's bullpen allowed just one run over the final four innings. Closer B.J. Ryan pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save, securing the first win for interim manager Cito Gaston, who took over for John Gibbons on Friday.

"It was a big win for us," Gaston said. "I thought overall everybody did a great job today. We scored some runs and (Pittsburgh) caught up with us, but they went back and battled again and scored some runs."

Gaston had guided Toronto to back-to-back World Series titles (1992-93) during his first stint as Blue Jays manager. He was asked if he remembered his previous victory as manager 11 years ago.

"No I don't (remember), but it's been awhile," he said.

Pirates starter Ian Snell (3-7) continued to struggle, allowing four runs in four innings. He gave up two runs in the first inning when the first three batters he faced reached base, capped by Alex Rios' RBI double to right field. Vernon Wells drove in Toronto's second run with a sacrifice fly.

Snell has a 7.45 ERA in five starts since June 1 and has gone five innings or less in four of them. The righthander, a 14-game winner in 2006, has claimed only one winning decision since April 12 - a span of 13 starts. He allowed eight hits and four walks, while throwing 91 pitches.

"It's not the toughest stretch of my career, and it's not going to be the last," said Snell, who hinted he may have a "dead arm" after the game. "Everybody has them, everybody goes through it. There's probably 100 pitchers who people expected do well, who aren't having good years.

"It (stinks) but it happens. You're going to have bad years before you have great ones."

After the Pirates cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the first, the Blue Jays took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth when Adam Lind led off with a home run to center field and Wells hit his second sacrifice fly of the game.

"I just talked to him (Lind) before the game started and I told him to relax and have a good time," Gaston said. "It doesn't matter where he's played in the past. In the minor leagues he's always hit well so (I told him) to just relax and have a great time."

But Pittsburgh responded in the bottom half of the fourth with five straight singles off Toronto starter Dustin McGowan to tie the game at 4-4. Jose Bautista had a two-run bloop single to right and Raul Chavez had a run-scoring single to right, driving in the runs.

McGowan (6-5) claimed the victory despite giving up four runs - three earned - and nine hits in five innings. It was only the second road win of the season for the Blue Jays' righthander.