TORONTO, 30 April 2005 — Gregg Zaun smacked a three-run homer to key a five-run sixth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays completed a three game series sweep of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with a 7-4 comeback win on Thursday in American League action at the Rogers Center.

Things did not look good for the Blue Jays went the Devil Rays scored three runs off Toronto starter Josh Towers (2-1) in the first inning.

But those would be the only three runs yielded by Towers, who overcame his shaky seven hit start to strike out six and walk none in 6 2/3 innings of work.

“I felt good the whole time,” said Towers. “I felt good in the first inning and then after that I settled down and put some zeroes on the board.

“They just jumped on me early a little bit. I just tried to focus a little more on where I wanted to pitch.”

In the sixth, Eric Hinske sparked the Blue Jay rally with a two-run double, cutting the deficit to one before Zaun took reliever Casey Fossum over the fence in deep left to push Toronto in front for the first time.

The Blue Jays would add two late runs in the eight inning as insurance to take home after going 0-5 against the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles.

“It’s nice to go on the road with some momentum,” said Zaun. “Momentum is good. We get swept by Baltimore, then we sweep the Devil Rays, call it even.

‘I’m pretty happy where the team is sitting at this point, especially with the difficult schedule we had early on.”

In New York, starter John Lackey combined with four relievers to hold the Yankees to one run, helping the Los Angeles Angels to 3-1 win.

Lacey (2-1) tossed 5 1/3 strong innings, allowing one run on seven hits and striking out seven, before turning over the game to the bullpen.

Jake Woods, Brendan Donnelly and Scott Shields took the game into the ninth where Francisco Rodriguez recorded the final three outs for the save.

Darin Erstad, Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson each drove in a run for the Angels.

Yankees starter Kevin Brown (0-3) took the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits.

In Kansas City, Lew Ford’s 11th inning RBI single lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 6-5 win over the Royals, who slumped to their eighth straight defeat.

Justin Morneau had a career high four hits and drove in two runs while Ford finished 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored as the Twins completed a three-game sweep.

After Ford had given the Twins the lead, Jesse Crain (1-0) got the final three outs for the win — allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings.

Mike Wood (0-2) took the loss giving up one run on one hit in 1 1/3 innings.

In Cleveland, Detroit scored three runs in first inning and Mike Maroth sparkled on the hill as the Tigers edged the Indians 3-2 for their fourth straight win.

Branyan Homer Drives Brewers Past Cardinals 4-3

Russell Branyan homered and Brady Clark slapped a two-run double to power the Milwaukee Brewers past the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 on Thursday in National League action at Busch Stadium.

Pitcher Chris Capuano (1-2) worked 6-1?3 strong innings to earn his first win of the season, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out four and walking three.

Jason Marquis (3-1) absorbed his first loss of the season, yielding four runs on five hits in seven innings of work.

The Brewers broke open a 2-1 contest with a pair of runs in the fifth, when Clark doubled down the right field line to score Bill Hall and J.J. Hardy.

St. Louis chipped away at the Milwaukee lead, bringing runs in the seventh and eighth inning, but could not complete the rally with Derrick Turnbow pitching a perfect ninth to nail down the win and his second save.