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Rios, Scutaro homer as Blue Jays avoid sweep

Jul 20, 2008 - 10:14 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Rios made sure the Toronto Blue Jays didn't remain in the American League East cellar for long.

Rios had a home run, two doubles and three RBI and Marco Scutaro hit a three-run homer as the Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 9-4, Sunday.

The Blue Jays salvaged the final game of their three-game series, handing the Rays only their eighth loss in the past 42 home games.

Toronto's nine runs were their most on the road since a 9-3 victory at the New York Yankees on June 3. The Blue Jays, who fell in the AL East basement Saturday night, moved past Baltimore into fourth place. The Jays visit Baltimore for a four-game series starting Monday.

"It was nice to see, it was one of those days where you can relax a little bit," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "It was a team effort. A good ballgame."

With the Blue Jays trailing 4-3 in the fifth, Scutaro's three-run shot off Edwin Jackson (5-7) gave the Toronto the lead for good.

Toronto added three more runs in the seventh on an RBI double by Rios, Scott Rolen's bases-loaded walk and Adam Lind's sacrifice fly.

"It's always good when you do things to help the team win so I guess I felt pretty good overall," Rios said. "The home run was great. I don't have a bunch, but whenever I get one, it's good."

Shawn Camp (3-1), the second of seven Blue Jays pitchers, got the victory. He pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and walking two.

"It would have been easier if I didn't have to use so many pitchers," Gaston said. "We had to mix and match a little bit, so that took a lot of doing, making sure you get the right guys out."

Camp relieved starter John Parrish, who allowed four hits and four runs in three innings.

Jackson allowed eight hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings. He had surrendered only seven runs in his previous four starts, spanning 27 1/3 innings.

"I gave them mistakes and they made me pay," Jackson said. "The mistake balls were just right down the middle. They're paid to hit mistakes and they did their job today."

Tampa Bay scored all its runs in the second and third inning. In the second, Shawn Riggans scored on Parrish's wild pitch.

In the third, Carl Crawford had an RBI groundout followed by back-to-back homers from rookie Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena. It was Longoria's 18th homer and the 15th for Pena.

"Two out of three ain't bad," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We did not pitch like we normally do. They're a good ballclub. People don't give them enough credit some of the time.

"I like the fact that people are disappointed. We want to win every game, but that's not the way it works."