Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

Final Score: Toronto 6 - Tampa Bay 2

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Vernon Wells homered and drove in three runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a three-game series.

Roy Halladay produced another strong outing for the Blue Jays, who have won nine of their last 13 games overall. Halladay (16-9) allowed two runs on six hits over six strong innings that included seven strikeouts. Lyle Overbay notched two RBI in the win.

"Halladay battled hard out there, and we managed to put some runs up for him," said Toronto manager Cito Gaston.

Eric Hinske drove in both runs for Tampa Bay, which has lost two straight games. Coupled with Boston's victory on Tuesday, the Rays lead in the AL East is 3 1/2 games over the Red Sox.

James Shields (11-8) suffered the loss after he allowed four runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

"I gave up runs, but I thought I pitched pretty well," said Shields. "When you're facing Halladay, you've got to be on your 'A' game. He's one of the premier pitchers in the game and he did a great job tonight"

Tampa Bay starting catcher Dioner Navarro left the game in the seventh inning due to an apparent leg injury.

Wells' RBI single in the top of the first opened the scoring before the visitors scored two more runs in the third inning for a 3-0 advantage. In the third, Alex Rios doubled, Adam Lind walked and both scored on a double by Overbay.

Tampa cut its deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double by Hinske. The two-base hit scored Akinori Iwamura and Carlos Pena.

However, the Blue Jays made it 4-2 in the seventh via Wells' run-scoring.

"It was real (helpful) to pick up that fourth run and go back out there with a two-run lead," said Halladay. "You can get comfortable and it takes a lot of pressure off heading into the late innings."

A pair of solo homers --- one by Rod Barajas in the eighth and another by Wells in the ninth -- created a four-run edge for Toronto.

"Vernon has been hot and that's the kind of Vernon we need on this club," said Gaston.

B.J. Ryan tossed a scoreless ninth to close it out.

Toronto sits eight games behind Boston in the wild card race.