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Rolen singles in winner as Jays rally past Phillies

Blue Jays 8 Phillies 3PHILADELPHIA — Winning an interleague game was a long and painstaking process for the Toronto Blue Jays, so they’ll settle for a victory any way possible.
Aaron Hill, Carlos Ruiz
Toronto Blue Jays' Aaron Hill scores on an RBI single by Scott Rolen as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz fails to tag him out in the tenth inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday

Blue Jays 8 Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA — Winning an interleague game was a long and painstaking process for the Toronto Blue Jays, so they’ll settle for a victory any way possible.

Scott Rolen singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and the Blue Jays went on to score four more runs to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays, who snapped a four-game skid and won for the first time in seven games against the NL, rallied for the victory despite leaving 16 runners on base.

“We did everything we could to give that game away, but we’ll take it,” Toronto manager Cito Gaston said.

The Blue Jays tied the game in the ninth when fill-in closer Ryan Madson walked Lyle Overbay with the bases loaded to make it 3-3.

With one out in the 10th, Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells had consecutive singles, setting up Rolen’s RBI hit against Clay Condrey (4-2).

“I was just trying to have a good at-bat,” Rolen said. “I felt like I was seeing the ball well.”

Scott Downs (1-0) earned the win with a scoreless ninth for the Blue Jays. Downs earned his first win since Sept. 27, 2007 against Tampa Bay, a span of 92 appearances. But Downs left the game after the ninth with a sore left foot. X-rays taken after the game were negative.

Condrey surrendered three hits and five earned runs in one-third of an inning.

“The ball got up and was not moving,” Condrey said.

Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, his 10th.

The Blue Jays tied the game against Madson, replacing Brad Lidge, who is out with a knee injury.

Wells hit an infield single, Rolen singled and Adam Lind was intentionally walked. After Alex Rios struck out, pinch-hitter Overbay worked another walked to score Wells.

Philadelphia pitchers walked 10 batters.

Starter Cole Hamels was effective in six innings as he allowed seven hits and two earned runs. He struck out six and walked two.

“It’s very frustrating when you’re supposed to be the guy going seven or eight innings,” Hamels said. “It puts a lot of stress on the bullpen.

Werth’s shot to left field off rookie Ricky Romero in the sixth inning was the Phillies 91st home run, which leads the National League, and gave Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. Romero lasted seven innings and recorded career-highs with nine strikeouts and 109 pitches.

“We battled all night,” Romero said. “I was really upset about the home run. The ball should have been outside more.”

Toronto scored a pair of runs in the fourth to jump ahead 2-1. Lind homered to right field and Kevin Millar added an RBI double.

Chase Utley singled home Jimmy Rollins, who hit a leadoff double, in the first inning.