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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 12:24 p.m., Saturday, September 6, 2008

Baseball: Zaun's game-ending grand slam lifts Jays to win over Rays

Associated Press

TORONTO — Gregg Zaun hit a game-ending grand slam in the 13th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 today to extend their season-high winning streak to seven.

Lyle Overbay added two solo homers for Toronto, which matched its longest winning streak since Sept. 22-29, 2002.

The AL East-leading Rays, who entered with a 2½-game advantage over Boston, have lost four of five. The Red Sox carried a four-game winning streak into their matchup with Texas on Saturday night.

Tampa Bay tied it with three runs in the ninth and Dioner Navarro's RBI single off Brian Tallet (1-1) in the 13th inning gave the Rays a 4-3 lead. But Toronto rallied against closer Troy Percival (2-1) in the bottom half.

Vernon Wells and Brad Wilkerson got it started with consecutive one-out singles. Overbay grounded into a fielder's choice and Scott Rolen walked before Zaun went deep for his fifth homer of the season.

Percival and Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan each picked up their fourth blown save. Pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli hit a two-run homer off Ryan in the ninth and pinch-runner Fernando Perez scored on second baseman Joe Inglett's error to tie it at 3.

Tampa Bay nearly won it in the 12th, loading the bases with two outs. Left-hander John Parrish came on and fell behind Carlos Pena 3-0, then got it back to 3-2 before Pena flied out to left.

Overbay hit a leadoff drive in the second and an opposite-field shot to left in the fourth for his 14th homer, helping Toronto build a 3-0 lead. It was his seventh career multihomer game of his career and second this season.

Shaun Marcum was in line for his ninth win before Tampa Bay's rally. He allowed four singles, walked three and struck out seven in seven innings.

James Shields allowed three runs and six hits in eight innings for the Rays.