Santiago, Jays Stop D'Rays

The Toronto Blue Jays are not ready to surrender in the AL wild-card race.

Benito Santiago hit a two-out, two-run single in the 12th inning as the Blue Jays beat Tampa Bay 7-5 on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.

Toronto trails the Boston Red Sox, who lost 6-4 to the Chicago White Sox, by four games in the wild-card race. The Blue Jays have six games left, all at home.

"We know we have to go out and win every game," winning pitcher Bill Risley said. "Mathematically we're still in it. We've got to go out and not worry about what the Red Sox are doing. We've got to go out and there, play ball and win the game."

Shawn Green opened the 12th with a single. After Jose Canseco struck out, Albie Lopez (7-4) intentionally walked Carlos Delgado, and walked Jose Cruz to load the bases.

Lopez almost worked his way of the jam by striking out Tony Fernandez, but Santiago followed with a line drive to center.

Risley (2-4) got the final four outs. The Blue Jays' victory was the first by a visiting team in the 12-game season series.

"It was another wild one, wasn't it?" Toronto manager Tim Johnson said. "What can you say? It ended up in our favor, but I tell you we haven't played well in Florida."

Tampa Bay's Fred McGriff hit a leadoff homer off Robert Person in the ninth to tie it at 5. It was Person's second blown save in four games.

Fernandez hit a two-run homer off Dennis Springer in the sixth to give Toronto a 5-3 lead. Tampa Bay cut it to 5-4 in the eighth. Rich Butler drew a one-out walk off Dave Stieb, and scored when Cruz dropped inch-hitter Bubba Trammell's fly ball in center field.

The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the first on Delgado's run-scoring groundout, and made it 3-0 in the second on Green's two-run triple. Green was thrown out trying for an inside-the-park home run.

Tampa Bay got a run back in the third on McGriff's RBI single, and tied it in the fourth on Rich Butler's two-run homer.

The Devil Rays went 6-4 during a 10-game homestand against playoff contenders. Tampa Bay (62-92) needs just one win in its last eight games to avoid losing 100 games.

"It was good we took it right to the end," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said. "We had chances to win, but we didn't."

Roy Halladay made his major-league debut for Toronto. The right-hander went five innings, allowing three runs -- two earned -- and eight hits.

Devil Rays starter Rolando Arrojo left in the second inning because of stiffness in his right biceps and is not expected to pitch again this season. Arrojo, seeking an expansion-team record 15th victory, allowed a run, one hit and two walks in 1 1/3 innings.

"I don't think it's serious," Arrojo said through an interpreter. "I started off well, but when I pitched to Fernandez (in the first inning), I felt my bicep pull."

Arrojo had a similar problem during a five-inning outing May 26 at Oakland, but did not miss a start.

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