Marcum strikes out 9, Rolen homers as Jays defeat Rays 6-2

Toronto Blue Jays' Shaun Marcum pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during ninth inning baseball action in Toronto, Wednesday, May 7, 2008. The Blue Jays beat the Rays 6-2. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Harris)

TORONTO—Shaun Marcum came within an out of a shutout, Scott Rolen hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Wednesday night.

Marcum (4-2) walked one and struck out nine, allowing two runs in 8 2-3. He won back-to-back starts for the first time this season and lowered his ERA to 2.59.

The right-hander got two quick outs in the ninth before Akinori Iwamura singled down the third-base line and Carl Crawford reached on an infield chopper. B.J. Upton followed with a two-run double to center, ending Marcum's chance for his first career complete game.

Scott Downs came on and ended the game by striking out Carlos Pena. Pena has struck out eight times in his past nine at-bats.

Dioner Navarro got the first hit off Marcum, a leadoff single in the third, but was thrown out by Alex Rios trying to stretch his hit into a double.

The Rays didn't put another man on base until Upton drew a two-out walk in the seventh. Upton stole second but Pena ended the inning by grounding out.

Leading 1-0 through seven, the Blue Jays broke it open with a bat-around, five-run eighth against three Tampa Bay relievers.

Shannon Stewart opened the inning with a walk before Rolen chased Scott Dohmann with a two-run drive to left-center, his second.

Trever Miller came on and struck out Matt Stairs before walking Vernon Wells and giving up a double to Lyle Overbay. Jason Hammel replaced Miller but allowed run-scoring singles to Aaron Hill, Rod Barajas and Marco Scutaro, who was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Toronto came in having gone 20 games without scoring more than five runs, last doing so in an 11-3 win at Baltimore on April 15. No American League team has had such a streak since the 2002 Detroit Tigers went 24 games without scoring more than five runs.

Rays starter Matt Garza (1-1) had to deal with baserunners in four of his first six innings, but didn't give up a run until the seventh.

Notes: Rays LHP Scott Kazmir worked on his mechanics in a bullpen session after struggling in his season debut Sunday at Boston. Kazmir, who suffered a strained elbow in February, allowed four runs in four innings against the Red Sox, but impressed pitching coach Jim Hickey with his session Wednesday. ... The Blue Jays purchased the contract of INF Jorge Velandia and demoted OF Adam Lind to Triple-A. The move provides cover for shortstops David Eckstein and John McDonald, who were both injured Tuesday. So far, neither has been placed on the DL.