Blue Jays 4, Devil Rays 2

TORONTO -Josh Towers won his third straight start, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the struggling Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-2.

Tampa Bay has lost five straight overall and eight in a row on the road. Since moving a season-high two games over .500 on July 3, the Devil Rays have gone 5-14.

Towers (5-3) allowed two runs – one earned – and six hits. Rookie Jason Frasor got four outs for his 12th save in 13 chances.

Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca was ejected in the sixth inning after arguing with first base umpire Sam Holbrook. Tosca was upset that Tampa Bay’s Rocco Baldelli was called safe on a pickoff attempt. Television replays showed Baldelli appeared to beat the tag.

Rob Bell (3-4) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings.

Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford singled in the first, stole second and advanced to third on a bunt before scoring on Aubrey Huff’s sacrifice fly. Crawford leads the majors with 41 steals.

Toronto’s Gregg Zaun hit an RBI single in the bottom half, and Alex Rios scored on Orlando Hudson’s run-scoring double play in the second. Wells and Zaun hit RBI doubles in the third for a 4-1 lead.

Crawford scored Tampa Bay’s second run in the sixth after Zaun, Toronto’s catcher, interfered with him during a rundown between home and third.

Notes: Former Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen retired Saturday in the middle of a poor season for the Blue Jays. The 35-year-old right-hander is 2-9 with a 6.95 ERA after returning to the Blue Jays last offseason. Hentgen won the 1996 AL Cy Young Award. … It was the second time Tosca was ejected this season and fifth time in his career. … The Devil Rays also lost eight straight on the road from May 5-16. … Tampa Bay has been outscored 40-16 over its last four road games.

AP-ES-07-24-04 1834EDT