TORONTO, 28 June 2004 — Miguel Batista pitched seven strong innings, while Reed Johnson and Frank Menechino both homered as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Montreal Expos 10-5 in Interleague play at the SkyDome on Saturday.

The Blue Jays pounded out 12 hits and took advantage of some sloppy defensive play and three errors from the Expos to score four unearned runs while beating the Expos for the second straight time in the teams’ three-game series. With the Expos expected to be relocated next season, the series probably represents the last time the Canadian rivals will face each other on home soil.

In other Interleague games, Al Leiter pitched 6 1/3 strong innings as the New York Mets beat the cross-town Yankees 9-3 at Yankee Stadium.

Leiter (3-2) allowed three runs on five hits and escaped several jams to help the Mets take the first game of “The Subway Series”.

In Boston, Jim Thome hit his major-league leading 26th home run, pacing the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Paul Konerko, Joe Crede and Jose Valentin all homered, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

In Los Angeles, Garret Anderson hit two two-run homers as the Anaheim Angels edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5.

Vladimir Guerrero also homered for the Angels, while Brendan Donnelly (1-0) got five outs in relief to pick up the win.

Russ Ortiz pitched seven shutout innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 5-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

In Arlington, Hank Blalock’s eight inning home run powered the Texas Rangers to an 8-7 win over the Houston Astros. Kevin Mench also homered for Texas, while Blalock and Alfonso Soriano both had four hits.

Carl Crawford drove in three runs to guide the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 6-4 win over the Florida Marlins.

In Minneapolis, Jeff Liefer homered and had four RBI as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2. Victor Santos pitched 6 1/3 solid innings as the Brewers snapped a three-game losing streak.

Eric Munson homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ben Broussard doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies.

In Kansas City, Edgar Renteria drove in the go-ahead run with a 10th inning single as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Royals 3-1.

Renteria had two RBI for the Cards and Mike Matheny drove in the other run in the 10th as St. Louis scored twice to break a 1-1 tie.

Jermaine Dye homered and Marco Scutaro singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Oakland Athletics to an 8-7 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Octovio Dotel (1-4) blew the save, allowing four runs in the ninth, but went 2 2/3 innings to pick up the win on his Oakland debut.

In Seattle, Jolbert Cabrera hit a three-run homer as the Mariners registered a 7-3 win over the San Diego Padres.

Randy Winn homered and had three hits for San Diego.

In the only National League game, Randall Simon’s home run in the top of the ninth inning was the only run in the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.