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Bruce lifts Reds past Blue Jays

Jun 26, 2008 - 4:16 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Rookie Jay Bruce hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning Wednesday, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-5 interleague victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

With the score tied at 5-5 with two runners aboard with one out in the top of the 10th, Bruce lofted an 0-2 pitch off Toronto rookie reliever Jesse Carlson to left field, plating Norris Hopper from third with the winning run. Brian Wolfe (0-2), who began the frame by walking the first two batters, took the loss.

Reds reliever Jared Burton (4-1) pitched two innings to earn the win before Francisco Cordero came on in the bottom of the 10th to record his 15th save of the season.

"We put some good at bats on a very good pitcher (Halladay) early in the game," Burton said. "We continued to battle and put runners on in the 10th to get going. Then we were able to execute."

The win snapped a two-game skid for the Reds while ending the Blue Jays' two-game winning streak.

"This win is a nice way to bounce back after we had the 5-0 lead," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "When you get five runs off that guy (Halladay) over there, that's almost unheard of."

The game began in good fashion for Cincinnati, which struck quickly off Halladay.

With one on and two outs in the top of the first, Ken Griffey Jr. launched an 0-1 pitch from the Blue Jays ace over the wall in right to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. The blast was Griffey's ninth of the season and the 602nd of his career.

The Reds tacked on to their lead in the third with back-to-back run-scoring singles by Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips. Rookie Joey Votto also added an RBI groundout later in the inning to make it 5-0 for Cincinnati.

However, Toronto began its rally a half inning later when two-run homers by Adam Lind and Joe Inglett off Reds starter Aaron Harang cut the home team's deficit to 5-4.

Later with two on and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Marco Scutaro drilled a hit to left field off Cincinnati reliever David Weathers to plate Lyle Overbay from second to tie the score at 5-5.

With the game still knotted at 5-5, Halladay ran into trouble with two outs in the seventh. The 2003 American League Cy Young Award Winner allowed two walks wrapped around a double to Votto to load the bases before reliever Scott Downs came on to strike out Hopper to avert any damage.

"It's a real tough one to lose," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "we had a lot of opportunities, and those are the kinds of games you have to win. You have to win those games."

Halladay gave up five runs, nine hits and four walks while striking out seven.

Harang allowed five runs, seven hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.