ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Roy Halladay had his Cy Young stuff again.

Halladay pitched seven-plus strong innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays got home runs from Vernon Wells, Orlando Hudson and Eric Hinske in a 5-2 victory Monday over Tampa Bay, ending the Devil Rays’ five-game winning streak in season openers.

After winning the 2003 AL Cy Young Award, Halladay was slowed by injuries last season, when he was 8-8 with a 4.21 ERA in 21 starts. But he looked healthy and sharp in this one, striking out seven and walking none to win for first time in three opening-day assignments with the Blue Jays.

Hudson hit a two-run homer off loser Dewon Brazelton in the fourth inning. Six pitches later, Wells followed with a solo shot off one of the catwalks supporting the roof at Tropicana Field.

The Devil Rays played without outfielder Alex Sanchez, who began serving a 10-day suspension for violating baseball’s new policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He was replaced in center field by Chris Singleton, who went 1-for-4 and scored a run.

Four of Tampa Bay’s first six hits off Halladay were infield singles. The right-hander, who scattered nine hits, was lifted after a leadoff single by Julio Lugo in the eighth. Scott Schoeneweis relieved, and Miguel Batista got four outs to earn the save.

Brazelton allowed three runs and five hits in seven-plus innings for the Devil Rays, who had not lost on opening day since 1999. Their five-game winning streak in openers was the longest in the majors.

At 24, Brazelton is the second-youngest opening day starter in Devil Rays history. He has been a much better pitcher at home during his career, going 7-5 at Tropicana Field as opposed to 0-11 with an 8.09 ERA in 15 road starts.

The right-hander retired the first nine Blue Jays before giving up a bloop double to Frank Catalanotto leading off the fourth. Hudson homered to right on a 3-1 pitch, and Wells followed with his drive to left that struck a speaker extended below one of three catwalks that ring the outfield.

Hinske added a two-run shot in the ninth off Jesus Colome.

Carl Crawford, who last week signed a $15.25 million, four-year contract that could be worth up to $32.5 million over six seasons, drove in Tampa Bay’s first run when he grounded into a force play in the third.

Jorge Cantu added a sacrifice fly off Halladay in the fourth.

Notes: Halladay is the second Toronto pitcher to make three straight opening day starts, joining Jimmy Key (1987-89). … C Charles Johnson signed with Tampa Bay before the game, giving the Devil Rays 16 players who were not on the team’s opening day roster a year ago. … Brazelton is Tampa Bay’s seventh opening day starter in eight seasons.

AP-ES-04-04-05 1846EDT